Friday, January 3
Providence, R.I.
5:30 P.M. CT
DePaul University
12-2 (2-0)
80
at
67
Providence
9-6 (0-3)
1
2
3
4
F
#16/17 DePaul
20
17
22
21
80
Providence
19
12
14
22
67
No. 16/17 DePaul Notches First Win of New Decade
1/3/2020 7:29:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Blue Demons drop Providence 80-67 Friday night on the road
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Ring in the New Year all ye Blue Demon faithful as No. 16/17 DePaul celebrated the first win of a new decade Friday night at Alumni Hall.
Behind Sonya Morris' 21 game-high points and 20 points from Dee Bekelja, DePaul defeated Providence 80-67 in front of a FS2 national television audience.
Chante Stonewall added 14 points and five rebounds while Lexi Held finished with nine points and five boards and Deja Church filled the stat sheet with eight points, six rebounds and four assists.
Up by 37-31 at halftime, DePaul (12-2, 2-0 in the BIG EAST) scored the first seven points of the third quarter on a Held layup and five Morris points. That established a 44-31 advantage and forced Providence coach Jim Crowley to call timeout. He didn't want one of those patented Blue Demon game-defining runs to put this one out of reach.
Unfazed by the break in play, Bekelja buried a three and Stonewall scored extending the run to 12-0. The hot-shooting Bekelja knocked down another shot and it was 51-36 at the third quarter media timeout.
Increasing the defensive intensity, DePaul forced seven turnovers in the first seven minutes of the third quarter. Unleashing the full-court press, the Blue Demons forced 10 turnovers in the third quarter. They wound up forcing 21 for the game.
Kelly Campbell hit a three-pointer and a pair of Church free throws gave the visitors a 59-45 lead heading into the last 10 minutes.
Five-straight Friar points cut the lead to 61-50 when Stonewall and Bekelja responded with baskets to make it 65-52 at the fourth quarter media timeout. Providence (9-6, 0-3) came within 72-62 when three-pointers by Held and Morris along with a Held jumper finished off the Friars.
An early three-pointer by Bekelja and baskets by Church, Held and Stonewall had DePaul tied 11-11 at the first quarter media timeout. Providence was going inside to 6-3 Mary Baskerville who had three baskets in the first six minutes.
Bekelja would go on to hit three of her first four shots and Stonewall converted a three-point play. Morris' driving scoop shot gave the visiting team a 20-19 lead after the first quarter.
Outscoring the Friars 8-3 at the outset of the second quarter led to a 29-23 lead. Morris scored inside and it was 31-26 at the media timeout. Kiara Dallmann came off the bench to hit a deep three-pointer and also blocked a Baskerville shot.
The Blue Demons had yet to unleash their vaunted full-court pressure as Providence featured a pair of quick ball-handling guards.
Another Stonewall score followed by back-to-back buckets from Bekelja lifted the Blue Demons to a 37-31 lead at halftime. Bekelja led all scorers with 11 points converting five of her seven shots. Morris had eight, Stonewall seven and Church six at the break.
DePaul made 15 of its first 30 shots but was only 2-of-10 from three-point range. Coach Doug Bruno's team outrebounded the taller Friars 17-14 in the first half. Bekelja had provided a much-needed offensive spark off the bench in the first two quarters.
Next for the Blue Demons is a Sunday showdown against BIG EAST contender Creighton at 1 p.m. in Omaha, Neb.
Postgame Notes
Behind Sonya Morris' 21 game-high points and 20 points from Dee Bekelja, DePaul defeated Providence 80-67 in front of a FS2 national television audience.
Chante Stonewall added 14 points and five rebounds while Lexi Held finished with nine points and five boards and Deja Church filled the stat sheet with eight points, six rebounds and four assists.
Up by 37-31 at halftime, DePaul (12-2, 2-0 in the BIG EAST) scored the first seven points of the third quarter on a Held layup and five Morris points. That established a 44-31 advantage and forced Providence coach Jim Crowley to call timeout. He didn't want one of those patented Blue Demon game-defining runs to put this one out of reach.
Unfazed by the break in play, Bekelja buried a three and Stonewall scored extending the run to 12-0. The hot-shooting Bekelja knocked down another shot and it was 51-36 at the third quarter media timeout.
Increasing the defensive intensity, DePaul forced seven turnovers in the first seven minutes of the third quarter. Unleashing the full-court press, the Blue Demons forced 10 turnovers in the third quarter. They wound up forcing 21 for the game.
Kelly Campbell hit a three-pointer and a pair of Church free throws gave the visitors a 59-45 lead heading into the last 10 minutes.
Five-straight Friar points cut the lead to 61-50 when Stonewall and Bekelja responded with baskets to make it 65-52 at the fourth quarter media timeout. Providence (9-6, 0-3) came within 72-62 when three-pointers by Held and Morris along with a Held jumper finished off the Friars.
An early three-pointer by Bekelja and baskets by Church, Held and Stonewall had DePaul tied 11-11 at the first quarter media timeout. Providence was going inside to 6-3 Mary Baskerville who had three baskets in the first six minutes.
Bekelja would go on to hit three of her first four shots and Stonewall converted a three-point play. Morris' driving scoop shot gave the visiting team a 20-19 lead after the first quarter.
Outscoring the Friars 8-3 at the outset of the second quarter led to a 29-23 lead. Morris scored inside and it was 31-26 at the media timeout. Kiara Dallmann came off the bench to hit a deep three-pointer and also blocked a Baskerville shot.
The Blue Demons had yet to unleash their vaunted full-court pressure as Providence featured a pair of quick ball-handling guards.
Another Stonewall score followed by back-to-back buckets from Bekelja lifted the Blue Demons to a 37-31 lead at halftime. Bekelja led all scorers with 11 points converting five of her seven shots. Morris had eight, Stonewall seven and Church six at the break.
DePaul made 15 of its first 30 shots but was only 2-of-10 from three-point range. Coach Doug Bruno's team outrebounded the taller Friars 17-14 in the first half. Bekelja had provided a much-needed offensive spark off the bench in the first two quarters.
Next for the Blue Demons is a Sunday showdown against BIG EAST contender Creighton at 1 p.m. in Omaha, Neb.
Postgame Notes
- Including the 21 by Providence, Bruno's team has forced 174 turnovers in the last seven games for an average of nearly 25 per game. The lowest in that span was 21 by the Friars and No. 1-ranked Connecticut.
- The Blue Demons have forced 20 or more turnovers in every game this season. Northwestern had the lowest total of miscues with 20.
- This was the 12th-straight win for DePaul in the series improving to 18-4.
- The Blue Demons went into the game leading the nation in assists and ranked second in scoring and three-pointers.
- In the latest NCAA RPI, DePaul is ranked No. 11.
- This was the 900th win in program history.
- Campbell needs 41 points to reach the 1,000-point career milestone.
- Campbell is No. 5 in career assists with 551 and Jessica January is fourth with 554. January's backcourt mate Chanise Jenkins is No. 3 with 670.
- Campbell has passed WNBA Draft pick Felicia Chester and Beth Hasenmiller for eighth in all-time rebounds with 817. Megan Podkowa is No. 7 at 835.
- Stonewall is No. 24 with in career scoring with 1,298. Next on the list at No. 23 is Jenna Rubino with1,314. Stonewall's 2018-19 teammate Martè Grays is No. 22 with 1,375.
Team Stats
DPU
PC
FG%
.449
.467
3FG%
.296
.273
FT%
1.000
.625
RB
34
35
TO
13
21
STL
10
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
20
FGM
9
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
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Forward
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