DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Creighton
No. 21/19 DePaul Earns Comeback Win at Creighton
1/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Box Score: DePaul 60, Creighton 56 
OMAHA, Neb. - The top two teams in the BIG EAST went head-to-head Friday night with No. 21/19 DePaul or Creighton walking out of Sokol Arena in sole possession of first place.
It was the Blue Demons with a hard-fought 60-56 victory as Brooke Schulte had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Amarah Coleman 13 points and Jacqui Grant 12 points and 11 boards.
DePaul (17-5, 9-1) overcame an eight-point halftime deficit with some clutch play in a fourth quarter that was tight from the beginning as Creighton took a one-point lead. Back-to-back Blue Demon buckets gave the visitors a 51-48 lead with 5:15 to go.
It was 53-53 when Tanita Allen made a huge steal that led to a Lauren Prochaska three-pointer with 1:33 on the clock. Allen came back the next possession with a timely blocked shot and Schulte scored on a tough shot inside for a 58-53 lead with 33 seconds left.
A Bluejay three by Audrey Faber (14 points) brought Creighton (14-6, 8-2) within two but Kelly Campbell buried a pair of foul shots with 13.7 seconds to go.
Trailing by eight at halftime, the Blue Demons opened the third quarter with an 8-2 burst and drew within 31-29, forcing Creighton to call timeout. Grant scored twice while Schulte and Prochaska each had a layup.
That initial burst led to an 18-7 run as a Coleman three-pointer put DePaul ahead 39-34 in the middle of the period. The Blue Demons maintained an advantage and headed into the fourth quarter leading 45-42.
DePaul jumped out to a 7-0 advantage after the opening tip as Creighton missed its first five shots. Grant had five of the Blue Demon points.
A 10-0 Bluejay burst put the home team on top by three. Coleman's score made it 10-9 after one quarter. Both teams combined to shoot 8-of-29 over the first 10 minutes.
Trailing 17-9, DePaul closed to within 19-15 midway through the second quarter on an Allen basket and a pair of layups from Coleman. Seven unanswered Bluejay points upped the lead to 26-15.
A Schulte layup followed by a Grant three made it a six-point game. Creighton built the margin back to 29-21 by halftime.
DePaul shot just 31 percent over the first 20 minutes and was uncharacteristically being outrebounded 26-15. What kept the Blue Demons within striking distance was forcing a dozen Creighton turnovers.
The Blue Demons look to sweep a two-game road swing with a noon tip on Sunday at Providence.
Notes
- Schulte has reached double figures the last 12 games. She is averaging 23 points in her last nine games.
- After tonight's performance, Schulte needs 20 points to reach 1,000 for her career.
- Prochaska returned from the sprained ankle that sidelined her almost the entire second half against Marquette last Saturday.
- The Blue Demons lead the all-time season series with Creighton at 9-2 and are 5-4 on the road.
- Grant has nine double-doubles and seven in BIG EAST play. This was her third consecutive double-double. Schulte has three double-doubles.
