Grays Leads No. 24/20 DePaul Past Providence 88-62

Monday, December 31

McGrath-Phillips Arena

2:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

Providence

DePaul

Grays Leads No. 24/20 DePaul Past Providence 88-62

12/31/2018 5:32:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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Senior records fourth career double-double with 19 points and career-high 14 rebounds

CHICAGO – No. 24/20 DePaul will head into the New Year on an upbeat note after returning to form Monday at McGrath-Phillips Arena.

Behind a complete effort from Mart'e Grays with a game-high 19 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, the Blue Demons ran away from Providence 88-62.

Freshman Lexi Held continued her recent tear with 18 points---her fifth consecutive game in double figures. Tanita Allen scored 12 points and hit some big shots in important moments.

Ashton Millender and Dee Bekelja each contributed nine points, and Millender's scrappy defense on Providence's best player Jovana Nogic limited the senior to just two points---12 below her average. Kelly Campbell again filled the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

After an uneven first half that saw DePaul (10-4, 1-1 in the BIG EAST) come away with a 34-26 lead, coach Doug Bruno increased the defensive pressure in the second half and also switched up some offensive schemes to provide his players with better looks.

The third quarter started out with a series of runs. The Blue Demons went on an 8-2 burst to move in front 42-28. Back came Providence (8-6, 0-2) with six in a row to draw within 42-34.

That's when Campbell and Allen ignited an 11-2 surge in providing their team with a 53-36 lead midway through the quarter. That was the widest margin to that point.

Millender's three followed by an Allen jumper and a pair of Campbell free throws increased the lead to 60-36. After a Grays basket, the Friars scored the next seven points and it was 62-43 after three quarters.

Back-to-back Grays scores midway through the fourth quarter put the Blue Demons on top 72-49. Grays already had a career high in rebounds.

DePaul came out fast from the opening tip in taking a 16-8 lead. Providence scored the next seven points to make it a one-point game. It remained close with the home team in front 18-17 after the first quarter. The Blue Demons made 5-of-16 from the field, but were 4-of-11 from three-point range.

They went up by seven early in the second quarter as both Held and Sonya Morris connected from deep. Held's jumper made it 28-22. The rookie guard added a pair of free throws for an eight-point margin.

Stonewall's baseline jumper gave the Blue Demons their biggest lead of the first half at 32-23. Following a Friars' three-pointer, Allen closed out the second quarter with a pair of free throws for a 34-26 advantage at halftime.

Grays almost had a double-double by the break with 11 points and nine rebounds. Held came through with seven points in the first 20 minutes.

DePaul was hampered by foul trouble in the first half as Campbell, Rebekah Dahlman and Morris each had three fouls. Morris fouled out early in the fourth quarter.

Next up for the Blue Demons is a marquee matchup at No. 20/22 Marquette on Friday in a clash of the BIG EAST's co-favorites.

Postgame Notes

Grays' career high of 14 rebounds eclipsed her previous mark by four, and this was her fourth career double-double.
DePaul's elevated defensive pressure forced the Friars into 14 turnovers in the second half.
Held has reached double figures five games in a row, scoring 68 points in that span. Her four free throws were a season high.
Point guard Campbell has 45 rebounds in her last five games.
Campbell is 28-of-32 from the free throw line this season while Grays is 31-of-35 and Dahlman 36-for-42. DePaul was 16-of-17 from the line on Monday.
With 238 career three-pointers, Millender is fourth all-time and pursuing No. 3 Allie Quigley (248). Quigley is a WNBA All-Star with the Chicago Sky.
Millender (632) is fifth all-time in career three-point attempts. Quigley is fourth at 642.
Campbell (372) is No. 9 all-time in assists---seven behind Barb Atsaves (379) for No. 8.
Dahlman (969) is 31 points shy of the 1,000 mark.