Friday, December 20
Chicago, Ill.
7:00 P.M. CT
DePaul University
10-2
83
at
76
Loyola-Chicago
9-1
1
2
3
4
F
DePaul
30
14
14
25
83
Loyola Chicago
21
17
17
21
76
No. 16/16 DePaul Edges Loyola 83-76
12/20/2019 9:36:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Stonewall leads the Blue Demons with 25 points, eight rebounds and four steals
CHICAGO – This had all the makings of a rivalry classic with DePaul ranked a consensus No. 16 in the nation and Loyola yet to taste defeat after nine games.
On a Friday night in front of an enthusiastic Gentile Arena crowd, the Blue Demons were the last team standing after an 83-76 victory over the Ramblers.
DePaul finished the nonconference season with a 10-2 record while Loyola's loss halted a 9-0 start which is the best in program history.
Leading the way for the triumphant visiting team was Chante Stonewall who was magnificent throughout all four quarters with a game-high 25 points along with eight rebounds and four steals.
Sonya Morris added 17 points and four steals including nine clutch points in the fourth quarter. Lexi Held scored 11 and Kelly Campbell finished with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. Dee Bekelja's 10 points had all five starters in double figures.
A Morris basket gave DePaul a 63-57 edge when Loyola scored five in a row to make it a one-point game with 7:09 left. You could see why the Ramblers had not lost in their first nine games, and Friday night they won the battle of the boards 49-26.
Jala Johnson hit consecutive threes to give Loyola its first lead of the game 68-67 with 5:26 to go. DePaul coach Doug Bruno signaled for a timeout to regroup.
Held hit two big baskets and Morris buried a three as the Blue Demons went up 74-72with 3:01 on the clock. Another Morris score followed by Deja Church's free throws and it was 78-72.
After a Rambler basket, Held knocked down a clutch three and the lead was 81-74 with 2:46 to go. A pair of Campbell free throws closed out the game.
Looking to lengthen its 44-38 halftime advantage, DePaul scored the first four points of the third quarter in going up by 10. Stonewall's three-point play made it 51-40 before Loyola closed to within 51-44 at the media timeout.
Stonewall's basket increased the lead to 57-50 but the Ramblers closed out the third quarter with a 5-1 spurt to make it a 58-55 game going into the final 10 minutes.
Continuing her recent offensive surge, Bekelja hit back-to-back threes right after the opening tip and then headed to the bench after committing her second foul. Stonewall's two early scores helped DePaul take a 14-12 lead at the first quarter media timeout.
Three baskets by Stonewall combined with a Morris three-pointer provided a 30-21 Blue Demon edge after the first quarter. Stonewall had 10 points in the first 10 minutes, converting five of her first eight shots.
The Ramblers scored the first four points of the second quarter, but that's when DePaul took off on an 8-1 run fueled by back-to-back Campbell connections from deep. Loyola called timeout trailing 38-26.
Another Stonewall score followed by a pair of free throws gave DePaul its largest lead of the first half at 42-28. The Ramblers responded by closing out the second quarter on an 8-2 burst as the Blue Demons headed to their locker room ahead 44-38.
Stonewall had the makings of a big-time game already with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals at the break. Among the nation's leaders in disrupting an offense, DePaul had forced 15 turnovers by halftime.
DePaul returns from Christmas break for a Dec. 29 showdown against Marquette at McGrath-Phillips Arena in its BIG EAST opener.
Postgame Notes
On a Friday night in front of an enthusiastic Gentile Arena crowd, the Blue Demons were the last team standing after an 83-76 victory over the Ramblers.
DePaul finished the nonconference season with a 10-2 record while Loyola's loss halted a 9-0 start which is the best in program history.
Leading the way for the triumphant visiting team was Chante Stonewall who was magnificent throughout all four quarters with a game-high 25 points along with eight rebounds and four steals.
Sonya Morris added 17 points and four steals including nine clutch points in the fourth quarter. Lexi Held scored 11 and Kelly Campbell finished with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. Dee Bekelja's 10 points had all five starters in double figures.
A Morris basket gave DePaul a 63-57 edge when Loyola scored five in a row to make it a one-point game with 7:09 left. You could see why the Ramblers had not lost in their first nine games, and Friday night they won the battle of the boards 49-26.
Jala Johnson hit consecutive threes to give Loyola its first lead of the game 68-67 with 5:26 to go. DePaul coach Doug Bruno signaled for a timeout to regroup.
Held hit two big baskets and Morris buried a three as the Blue Demons went up 74-72with 3:01 on the clock. Another Morris score followed by Deja Church's free throws and it was 78-72.
After a Rambler basket, Held knocked down a clutch three and the lead was 81-74 with 2:46 to go. A pair of Campbell free throws closed out the game.
Looking to lengthen its 44-38 halftime advantage, DePaul scored the first four points of the third quarter in going up by 10. Stonewall's three-point play made it 51-40 before Loyola closed to within 51-44 at the media timeout.
Stonewall's basket increased the lead to 57-50 but the Ramblers closed out the third quarter with a 5-1 spurt to make it a 58-55 game going into the final 10 minutes.
Continuing her recent offensive surge, Bekelja hit back-to-back threes right after the opening tip and then headed to the bench after committing her second foul. Stonewall's two early scores helped DePaul take a 14-12 lead at the first quarter media timeout.
Three baskets by Stonewall combined with a Morris three-pointer provided a 30-21 Blue Demon edge after the first quarter. Stonewall had 10 points in the first 10 minutes, converting five of her first eight shots.
The Ramblers scored the first four points of the second quarter, but that's when DePaul took off on an 8-1 run fueled by back-to-back Campbell connections from deep. Loyola called timeout trailing 38-26.
Another Stonewall score followed by a pair of free throws gave DePaul its largest lead of the first half at 42-28. The Ramblers responded by closing out the second quarter on an 8-2 burst as the Blue Demons headed to their locker room ahead 44-38.
Stonewall had the makings of a big-time game already with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals at the break. Among the nation's leaders in disrupting an offense, DePaul had forced 15 turnovers by halftime.
DePaul returns from Christmas break for a Dec. 29 showdown against Marquette at McGrath-Phillips Arena in its BIG EAST opener.
Postgame Notes
- Bruno's team forced 28 Loyola turnovers while committing just nine.
- This was the fourth-straight win for DePaul in the rivalry which improved its series record to 41-11.
- The Blue Demons went into the game leading the nation in assists and ranked No. 2 in scoring and three-pointers.
- In the latest NCAA RPI, DePaul was ranked No. 15.
- The Blue Demons need two more wins to reach 900 in program history.
- Campbell needs 55Â points to reach the 1,000-point career milestone.
- Campbell is No. 5 in career assists with 543Â and Jessica January is fourth with 554.
- Campbell has passed WNBA Draft pick Felicia Chester and Beth Hasenmiller for eighth in all-time rebounds with 806. Megan Podkowa is No. 7 at 835.
- Stonewall has passed Janine Douglas, Kris Booker and Rita Hale for No. 25 all-time in career scoring with 1,264 points. Sam Quigley is No. 24 with 1,273.
Team Stats
DPU
LUC
FG%
.425
.463
3FG%
.360
.500
FT%
.923
.652
RB
26
49
TO
9
28
STL
15
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALLGuard
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Guard
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALLGuard
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