DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
St. John's
No. 21/20 DePaul Wins its Eighth in a Row
1/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
QUEENS, N.Y. - Eight straight is what No. 21/20 DePaul had in mind Tuesday night, and that's precisely what the team from Lincoln Park accomplished at Carnesecca Arena.
And with Brooke Schulte scoring 21 points despite foul trouble, the Blue Demons came away with a 78-66 victory over St. John's for their eighth win in a row. Amarah Coleman added 15 points while Lauren Prochaska scored a career-high 11 points and Tanita Allen also finished with 11.
This game continued the legacy of the Maggie Dixon Classic in New York where it is annually played at Madison Square Garden. With scheduling conflicts this season, the 11th annual Classic was moved to Carnesecca Arena.
Dixon is the former DePaul assistant coach who worked with coach Doug Bruno before taking over the women's basketball program at Army where she led the Black Knights to their first NCAA tournament appearance three weeks before passing away at the age of 29 from heart arrhythmia in 2006.
Leading by eight at halftime, DePaul (14-4, 6-0) opened up a 55-36 advantage midway through the third quarter. Three-pointers by Kelly Campbell and Chante Stonewall along with a Schulte three-point play paved the way. It was 65-49 after three quarters although Schulte and Grant had four fouls each.
St. John's made its first 21 free throws and came within 12 early in the fourth quarter. But a six-point Blue Demon burst pushed the margin to 73-55 with less than five minutes to go. St. John's (11-5, 3-2) could come no closer than 10 in the fourth quarter.
Thanks to runs of 10-2 and 9-2, the Blue Demons emerged with a 22-13 lead after the first quarter. Schulte encountered early foul trouble and had to sit a good portion of the first half. A Lauren Prochaska three-pointer and Amarah Coleman three-point play highlighted the surges.
DePaul led by 11 early in the second quarter but the Red Storm drew within 29-22 by the media timeout. St. John's was 13-for-13 from the free throw line at that point. The Johnnies trimmed the lead to 31-28 when Coleman's three-point play helped her team close out the first half with a 7-2 burst.
Despite Schulte and Grant sitting out with foul trouble, the Blue Demons managed to secure a 38-30 lead at the break. St. John's had converted all 17 of its free throws by the break.
DePaul is back home this weekend starting with a 7 p.m. matchup Friday against Butler followed by a 2 p.m. tip on Sunday against Xavier.
Notes
- During the eight-game winning streak, the Blue Demons' average margin of victory is 27 points.
- DePaul has opened the BIG EAST season 6-0 for the first time since 2011 when the Blue Demons won their first seven.
- Prochaska recorded a career high in points with 11.
- Schulte has reached double figures in scoring the last eight games.
- DePaul outrebounded St. John's 37-24
- DePaul is 13-5 in the all-time season series with St. John's and 6-2 at Carnesecca Arena.
