DePaul University Athletics
Held's Last-Minute Heroics Saves the Day
2/10/2019 5:35:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Unflappable freshman excels in crunch time for 76-71 win over Georgetown
CHICAGO – Lexi Held saved her biggest moments for the most crucial part of the game on Sunday.
The unflappable freshman scored six game-defining points and hauled down the most critical defensive rebound of the afternoon in the final 1 minute, 14 seconds---propelling the Blue Demons to a tension-filled 76-71 BIG EAST victory over Georgetown.
Chante Stonewall scored a game-high 20 points and frontcourt mate Mart'e Grays added 18 points with 15 coming in the second half.
Held wound up with 11 points, and there were key contributions from Maya Stovall (eight points and seven assists), Rebekah Dahlman (seven points and eight rebounds) along with Kelly Campbell's five points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Held knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:14 showing on the clock for a 69-67 DePaul lead. After Dorothy Adomako tied it 69-69, back came Held with a tough, driving layup as the clock showed 47 seconds to go. A Stonewall foul shot made it a three-point game.
Mikayla Venson's free throws left a rowdy McGrath-Phillips Arena partisan crowd on edge once again until Ashton Millender converted a pair of foul shots.
Venson cut loose from behind the arc for the tie, and her miss was seized by Held in a crowd of Hoyas' players. A foul sent Held back to the line and she drained two more with 12 seconds left.
The Blue Demon margin had fluctuated between six and eight points until Georgetown connected on a three-pointer to make it 65-62 with 4:45 left in the game.
After the Hoyas made it a one-point game, Grays scored down low with 2:26 left. The Hoyas scored the next three to even it at 67-67 when Held took over.
Leading 38-35 after the first 20 minutes, DePaul (17-7, 8-4) opened the third quarter scoring five in a row for an eight-point advantage. Grays had two post-up baskets early in the quarter and it was 48-42 at the media timeout. Millender was whistled for her fourth foul.
Another Stonewall score stretched the lead to 57-48 when the Hoyas (11-13, 5-8) answered with four in a row. Playing another solid game, freshman point guard Stovall hit a turnaround jumper just before the buzzer for a 59-51 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
DePaul connected on three of its first four attempts from beyond the arc in building an early six-point lead after the opening tip. Georgetown weathered the early strike and pulled within 14-13 at the first quarter media timeout.
The Hoyas extended that rally, finishing the quarter with a 16-5 run after trailing 14-10 and the Blue Demons were down 26-19 heading into the second quarter.
An 8-2 burst brought the home team within 28-27 early in the second quarter. Grays and Millender ran into foul trouble and had to sit out the rest of the first half. The Hoyas led 31-27 at the media timeout.
Stonewall, Dahlman and Held sparked an 11-2 surge as DePaul moved in front 38-33 after Held's three-pointer. They took a 38-35 lead into their halftime locker room.
Stonewall was having the kind of game Grays had on Friday, leading all scorers at intermission with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
The Blue Demons are on the road this coming weekend with BIG EAST games Friday at Seton Hall and Sunday at St. John's.
Postgame Notes
The unflappable freshman scored six game-defining points and hauled down the most critical defensive rebound of the afternoon in the final 1 minute, 14 seconds---propelling the Blue Demons to a tension-filled 76-71 BIG EAST victory over Georgetown.
Chante Stonewall scored a game-high 20 points and frontcourt mate Mart'e Grays added 18 points with 15 coming in the second half.
Held wound up with 11 points, and there were key contributions from Maya Stovall (eight points and seven assists), Rebekah Dahlman (seven points and eight rebounds) along with Kelly Campbell's five points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Held knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:14 showing on the clock for a 69-67 DePaul lead. After Dorothy Adomako tied it 69-69, back came Held with a tough, driving layup as the clock showed 47 seconds to go. A Stonewall foul shot made it a three-point game.
Mikayla Venson's free throws left a rowdy McGrath-Phillips Arena partisan crowd on edge once again until Ashton Millender converted a pair of foul shots.
Venson cut loose from behind the arc for the tie, and her miss was seized by Held in a crowd of Hoyas' players. A foul sent Held back to the line and she drained two more with 12 seconds left.
The Blue Demon margin had fluctuated between six and eight points until Georgetown connected on a three-pointer to make it 65-62 with 4:45 left in the game.
After the Hoyas made it a one-point game, Grays scored down low with 2:26 left. The Hoyas scored the next three to even it at 67-67 when Held took over.
Leading 38-35 after the first 20 minutes, DePaul (17-7, 8-4) opened the third quarter scoring five in a row for an eight-point advantage. Grays had two post-up baskets early in the quarter and it was 48-42 at the media timeout. Millender was whistled for her fourth foul.
Another Stonewall score stretched the lead to 57-48 when the Hoyas (11-13, 5-8) answered with four in a row. Playing another solid game, freshman point guard Stovall hit a turnaround jumper just before the buzzer for a 59-51 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
DePaul connected on three of its first four attempts from beyond the arc in building an early six-point lead after the opening tip. Georgetown weathered the early strike and pulled within 14-13 at the first quarter media timeout.
The Hoyas extended that rally, finishing the quarter with a 16-5 run after trailing 14-10 and the Blue Demons were down 26-19 heading into the second quarter.
An 8-2 burst brought the home team within 28-27 early in the second quarter. Grays and Millender ran into foul trouble and had to sit out the rest of the first half. The Hoyas led 31-27 at the media timeout.
Stonewall, Dahlman and Held sparked an 11-2 surge as DePaul moved in front 38-33 after Held's three-pointer. They took a 38-35 lead into their halftime locker room.
Stonewall was having the kind of game Grays had on Friday, leading all scorers at intermission with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
The Blue Demons are on the road this coming weekend with BIG EAST games Friday at Seton Hall and Sunday at St. John's.
Postgame Notes
- Millender has made a three-pointer in 37 consecutive games dating back to Feb. 4, 2018.
- Millender (1,259 points) is No. 23 on the all-time scoring list. Sam Quigley is No. 22 at 1,273.
- Grays (1,225 points cracked the top 25 all-time scoring list, supplanting Kris Booker (1,213).
- With 263 career three-pointers, Millender is No. 3 all-time. Brittany Hrynko is No. 2 at 281 and all-time leader Lenae Williams finished with 303.
- Millender (708) is No. 2 all-time in career three-point attempts. Williams set the career mark with 924.
- Campbell (417) is No. 8 all-time in assists with Allie Quigley No. 7 at 427.
Team Stats
F-251
F-176
FG%
.421
.473
3FG%
.389
.320
FT%
.727
.800
RB
33
34
TO
15
17
STL
8
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Players Mentioned
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