It's Celebration City in the South Loop

Tuesday, March 12

Wintrust Arena

7:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

26-7

Marquette

26-7

Marquette

DePaul

3/12/2019 11:13:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

No. 24 DePaul's 74-73 comeback win over No. 13/13 Marquette nets a repeat BIG EAST title

CHICAGO – Whether it was that gritty fourth-quarter resolve these Blue Demons have flourished on time and again this season or simply that Chante Stonewall decided it was time to impose her will on a heart-pounding BIG EAST tournament title game, the junior forward came through in heroic fashion.

With eight seconds left and No. 24 DePaul trailing No. 13/13 Marquette 73-71, coach Doug Bruno ran a pinch post with Stonewall having the option to beat Marquette's best defender Selena Lott one-on-one or kick it out to three-point threat Ashton Millender.

Judging by the determination written all over her face, there was only one option on her mind. Stonewall drove to the basket, caromed in a pretty bank shot and was fouled in the process. Her three-point play was the catharsis of a tension-filled fourth quarter in the Blue Demons' 74-73 victory over the Golden Eagles. It stretched DePaul's winning streak to 11 in a row.

There were still five seconds left and Marquette opted for BIG EAST Player of the Year Natisha Hiedeman to race up the court for a potential winning shot.

Except, there was Stonewall blocking the way. The Blue Demons' go-to defender used her quickness and length to make sure this night belonged to a boisterous partisan crowd that included DePaul President Dr. Gabriel Esteban and his wife, Jo.

When Hiedeman's attempt faded to the left without touching iron, Wintrust Arena experienced its first court storm.

"This is a moment you dream about as a little girl," said an emotional Stonewall who had tears in her eyes during a postgame interview with FS1. "It was a struggle for me the first two games of the tournament and these girls always had my back. It's not just one player, but a whole team."

No doubt Stonewall was referring to players such as Mart'e Grays (nine points, seven rebounds), Millender and Tanita Allen whose contributions Tuesday night and throughout the tournament paved the way for a repeat championship.

"Right after I made the free throw, I knew it wasn't over," Stonewall said.

Stonewall's clutch play at both ends of the court in the final seconds combined with a career-high 28 points that included a second career best with 11 field goals earned her the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Award. Kelly Campbell and Grays were also named to the all-tournament team.

Freshman Lexi Held hit some clutch three-pointers when her team needed them the most and finished with 11 points. Campbell made huge contributions all over the court with nine points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals.

DePaul (26-7) repeated as BIG EAST champion and earned the NCAA tournament automatic berth---its 17th consecutive NCAA postseason appearance. It was their fourth conference tournament title in the last six years and came in a season when nothing came easy.

Other than jumping out to a 10-4 lead after the opening tip, Bruno's team trailed for nearly 32 minutes. In the critical fourth quarter, each time DePaul came within three, Marquette (26-7) would lengthen its lead.

Campbell's free throw with 1:39 left and a pair of Stonewall foul shots with less than a minute to go left DePaul trailing 72-71. You could feel the tension enveloping this South Loop arena.

Hiedeman's free throw made it a two-point game until Stonewall took control.

Millender's three-pointer at the outset of a tense fourth quarter cut the Golden Eagles lead to 59-56. Stonewall followed with another clutch shot to make it a one-point game.

After a pair of Marquette scores, Stonewall cashed in again and it was 63-60. Danielle King hit a runner in the lane and the DePaul deficit was five at the media timeout.

A three-pointer and layup by Campbell kept everyone in Wintrust Arena on pins and needles. Held's three made it 70-68.

Leading by five at halftime, Marquette opened the third quarter with back-to-back threes from Selena Lott and Allazia Blockton in building a 46-35 advantage. Coach Doug Bruno's team was down 50-37 when it launched a 12-2 run to come within 52-49, forcing the Golden Eagles to call timeout.

Stonewall hit two big baskets in that span and you could see the confidence flowing from her with each attempt. The junior forward was her team's best scoring option. She was 7-of-8 at that point with 3:02 left in the third quarter.

Another Stonewall score made it a one-point game down the third quarter stretch. A 7-2 Marquette run left the Blue Demons down 59-53 going into the final 10 minutes.

The Blue Demons got off to a good start, which is essential against a Marquette team that can erupt for scoring runs. Maya Stovall and Grays scored on layups prior to Lexi Held and Stonewall connecting from behind the arc for a 10-4 lead.

Marquette recovered with an 8-0 spurt, flipping the game to its advantage 12-10 with 3:03 left in the first quarter. A Campbell three-pointer and Stonewall's tough rebound basket kept the home team close at 18-17. Down three, DePaul finished off the first quarter with a Tanita Allen three-pointer for a 20-20 deadlock after the first 10 minutes.

The Blue Demons were physical in the paint in the first quarter, outrebounding Marquette 15-6. The Golden Eagles opened the second quarter with a 7-1 run that was cut short by a Stonewall three. Hiedeman answered with a three of her own as Marquette led 30-24 at the media timeout.

That turned into a 10-2 Golden Eagles run that left DePaul trailing 33-24. The Blue Demons responded with a 9-0 run of their own to tie it 33-33. The visiting team closed out the first half on a 7-2 spurt as DePaul trailed 40-35 at halftime.

Stonewall had 13 points in the first two quarters, hitting 5-of-6 shots from the field including 3-of-4 from deep.

DePaul will await Monday's NCAA women's basketball selection show to find out its opponent in the NCAA Tournament First Round.

Postgame Notes

Stonewall notched career highs in points with 28 and field goals with 11.
Stonewall was named Most Outstanding Player. Campbell, Grays, Jalyn Agnew of Creighton, Dorothy Adomako of Georgetown and Hiedeman were selected to the all-tournament team.
This is the sixth year in a row the Blue Demons have advanced to the conference tournament title game, winning it four times. Tuesday's win clinches their 17th-straight appearance in the NCAA tournament.
DePaul is 23-10 in BIG EAST tournament play.
Since the conference was restructured in 2013-14, the Blue Demons are 15-2 in the league postseason.
Grays has scored 190 points in her last 11 games.
The Blue Demons have converted a dozen or more three-pointers in 15 games this season including against Connecticut.
Millender (1,375 points) is No. 21 on the all-time scoring list with Jasmine Penny No. 20 at 1,417.
Grays (1,366) is No. 22 on the all-time scoring list.
With 282 career three-pointers, Millender surpassed Brittany Hrynko at No. 2 all-time. Lenae Williams owns the all-time record with 303.
Millender (762) is No. 2 all-time in career three-point attempts. Williams set the career mark with 924.
Campbell (468) is No. 7 all-time in assists and in pursuit of No. 6 Molly Watson (471).
Campbell (708) is No. 11 all-time in career rebounds surpassing Cathy Perditz (699) on Tuesday.
Millender is the all-time leader for career games played with 143.
This was the third-straight year the Blue Demons have played Marquette in the BIG EAST title game.
DePaul is 45-29 all-time against the Golden Eagles.