It's 10 in a Row for No. 24 DePaul

Monday, March 11

Wintrust Arena

5:30 P.M. CT

DePaul University

25-7

Creighton

15-16

Creighton

DePaul

3/11/2019 8:57:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score PDF Box Score

Blue Demons advance to BIG EAST title game after downing Creighton 80-69 Monday night

CHICAGO – The climb to the top has been challenging, but No. 24 DePaul is now just one significant step away from claiming its fourth BIG EAST tournament title in the last six years.

The defending BIG EAST champion and No. 2 seed advanced on Monday to the tournament's championship game after an 80-69 victory over No. 6 Creighton at Wintrust Arena for its 10th win in a row.

Mart'e Grays led the way with 20 points while Chante Stonewall and Ashton Millender each scored 12 with Millender adding a career-high seven assists and Stonewall becoming a 1,000-point career scorer with a total of 1,002. Kelly Campbell collected a game-high eight rebounds and Dee Bekelja contributed eight key points in just seven minutes off the bench. Tanita Allen chipped in with seven points in seven minutes.

The Blue Demons (25-7) will clash with long-time adversary and No. 1 seed Marquette (26-6) for BIG EAST bragging rights and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Tuesday's showdown will tip at 7 p.m. and is being televised on FS1 with Lisa Byington and former DePaul star Sarah Kustok on the call.

It was tight at the outset of the fourth quarter with the home team clinging to a one-point lead. Creighton scored the first three points, but Kelly Campbell came back with a three-pointer to tie it 58-58 at the 7:19 media timeout.

These two teams played tension-filled games in splitting their BIG EAST series 1-1. Why would Monday night be any different?

Including Campbell's three, DePaul went on an 11-0 run to move in front 66-58 midway through the quarter. The Bluejays closed to within 68-63 with three minutes to go. That's when Stonewall came back with a clutch basket and Grays knocked down a pair of free throws to go up 72-63 with 2:50 left.

A pair of Campbell foul shots and Millender's layup increased the margin to 76-63 with 1:51 left. The Blue Demons outscored Creighton 25-15 in the fourth quarter.

Playing numerous close games this season that came down to the fourth quarter held DePaul in good stead. Each time this team succeeds, its confidence in the final 10 minutes seems to grow.

Stonewall scored to open the third quarter in extending a 41-37 halftime lead to six. Creighton came back with five unanswered points and it was once again a one-point game. Tanita Allen scored on a layup and followed with a steal and basket for a 47-44 Blue Demon advantage at the third quarter media timeout.

Creighton (15-16) was down five when the visiting team scored 10 in a row including back-to-back threes for a 54-49 lead and prompting DePaul coach Doug Bruno to call time out.

That run was snapped when Sonya Morris buried a clutch three-pointer. With 10 seconds left, Bruno subbed in Rebekah Dahlman who immediately responded with a corner three for a 55-54 Blue Demon lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

Grays has really embraced a transformation from primarily a wing scorer to a nearly unstoppable force in the paint. The 6-foot, 2-inch senior forward scored six quick points down low from the opening tip in sparking her team to an 11-8 advantage at the first quarter media timeout.

A five-point surge put Creighton on top 17-14 near the end of the quarter. Off the bench, Dee Bekelja had a ready response with her three-point play. Grays scored again inside for a 19-17 DePaul lead after the first quarter.

In her eight minutes on the court, Grays already had 11 points. Stonewall's two free throws staked her team to a 22-17 lead when the Bluejays went on an 8-2 burst. The lead went back and forth until the second quarter media timeout.

Trailing by one, the Blue Demons closed out the first half on a 7-2 run behind two Lexi Held foul shots, another Grays post-up and a corner three-pointer from Bekelja. They took a 41-37 advantage into the locker room.

Grays had 16 points in the first half on 7-of-11 shooting. By avoiding early foul trouble, she has become a consistent offensive weapon. Fellow senior Ashton Millender had eight points and three assists at the
break. DePaul only committed two turnovers in the first 20 minutes and finished with five.

Postgame Notes

This is the sixth year in a row the Blue Demons have advanced to the conference tournament title game.
DePaul is 22-10 in BIG EAST tournament play.
Since the conference was restructured in 2013-14, the Blue Demons are 14-2 in the league postseason.
The five turnovers Monday are the fewest by a DePaul team in BIG EAST tournament history.
Stonewall became the 38th player in program history to score 1,000 points in her career.
Millender dished out a career-high seven assists.
Grays has scored 181 points in her last 10 games.
The Blue Demons have converted a dozen or more three-pointers in 15 games this season including against Connecticut.
Millender (1,368 points) is No. 21 on the all-time scoring list with Jasmine Penny No. 20 at 1,417.
Grays (1,357) is No. 22 on the all-time scoring list.
With 281 career three-pointers, Millender tied Brittany Hrynko at No. 2 all-time. Lenae Williams owns the all-time record with 303.
Millender (756) is No. 2 all-time in career three-point attempts. Williams set the career mark with 924.
Campbell (462) is No. 7 all-time in assists and in pursuit of No. 6 Molly Watson (471).
Campbell (696) passed Janine Douglas (691) for No. 12 all-time in career rebounds and is three behind No. 11 Cathy Perditz (699).
Millender (142 games played) set the all-time record for career games, surpassing Chanise Jenkins who is currently playing pro basketball in Australia.
This was the first time the Blue Demons have played Creighton in the BIG EAST postseason.
DePaul is 13-3 all-time against the Bluejays.