DePaul University
Notre Dame
DePaul Battled No. 2/2 Notre Dame to the End
12/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Blue Demons stepped onto the Purcell Pavilion court Sunday fully aware they needed to raise their collective game against the No. 2-ranked team in the nation.
They certainly did that in battling No. 2/2 Notre Dame practically even for three quarters before falling 91-82. Ashton Millender led the Blue Demons with 18 points while Amarah Coleman scored 17 and Chante Stonewall had 16 points.
It took a total team effort and balanced offense to offset Notre Dame's Jessica Shepard who scored 39 points.
After falling behind in double digits in the fourth quarter, DePaul (7-4) fought back with a late 6-0 run. Coleman's three-point play made brought her team within 81-75, but that was the closest the Blue Demons would come. Notre Dame improved to 10-1.
DePaul made some defensive adjustments at halftime after Shepard scored 26 in the first half. A three-point play by Amarah Coleman capped off a personal five-point burst to tie the game 47-47 midway through the third quarter.
An 8-2 Irish spurt towards the end of the quarter left the Blue Demons trailing 55-49. Stonewall hit a pair of threes down the stretch and Millender added a long one from the corner to bring DePaul within 60-58 heading into the fourth quarter.
A balanced attack in the first half help offset a strong opening two quarters by the 6-foot, 4-inch Shepard who had 26 points by the break.
Stonewall's eight points in the second quarter helped to keep it a one-possession game. Millender also had eight points by halftime.
The Blue Demons took their first lead early in the second quarter on a Dee Bekelja three-pointer in moving ahead 22-21. Notre Dame's biggest lead was six points and DePaul once led by four in the first half.
Shepard was doing all her damage down low, powering up for layups and making 13 of her first 17 shots. DePaul countered with seven 3-pointers while the Fighting Irish were 1-for-5 from deep.
The Blue Demons are back at McGrath-Phillips Arena on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game against IUPUI.
Postgame Notes
- The Blue Demons have scored 979 points this season for an average of 89 points per game.
- In the last 10 games, DePaul has hit 139 three-pointers---an average of 13.9 per game.
- Kelly Campbell has made 27 of her last 30 free throws including 19 of the last 20.
- Campbell has recorded 24 steals in her last six games.
- The Blue Demons are 19-25 in the all-time series against the Fighting Irish.
- This was the second true road game of the season for DePaul.
