No. 11/12 DePaul Upset by Creighton 63-61

Friday, January 31

Wintrust Arena

7:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

19-3,9-1Big East

Creighton

14-7,6-4Big East

Creighton

DePaul

1/31/2020 11:10:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Setback at Wintrust Arena snaps Blue Demons' 10-game winning streak

CHICAGO – It was one of those stunning, can't-believe-what-you're-watching experiences on Friday night.

Seeming to be in control after a 20-point halftime lead, everything unraveled in the second half of No. 11/12 DePaul's 63-61 loss to Creighton at Wintrust Arena.

It was the Blue Demons' first loss since Dec. 16 when they rallied from a 26-point halftime deficit against then No. 2/2 Connecticut to come within four midway through the fourth quarter in the 84-74 loss.

The setback was DePaul's first in BIG EAST play and snapped a 10-game winning streak, dropping coach Doug Bruno's team to 19-3 on the season and 9-1 in the BIG EAST.

Chante Stonewall gave it everything she had in the comeback effort with a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds which tied a career high. It was her second double-double of the season.

Lexi Held and Dee Bekelja each scored 11 points and Kelly Campbell did yeoman's work on the backboards with 13 rebounds. Olivia Elger paced the Bluejays with 28 points.

Creighton tied the game at 50-50 early in the fourth quarter and took its first lead of the game 53-50 on an Elger three-pointer with 5:48 left.

Held responded with a three-point play but back came Elger with another three. Bekelja scored and the Bluejays answered to lead 58-55 at the media timeout.

Bekelja's free throws cut the deficit to 58-57 when Creighton scored five in a row. A pair of Stonewall free throws reduced the deficit to 63-59 with 1:05 on the clock. A few seconds later, Stonewall forced a turnover and 10 seconds later scored to make it a two-point game with 53.6 seconds to go.

With DePaul's full-court press in a state of controlled desperation, Sonya Morris deflected a Creighton pass leading to their 23rd turnover. Campbell drove to the basket and tried to draw a foul from a pair Bluejay defenders to no avail.

Creighton (14-7, 6-4) came into McGrath-Phillips Arena last year and stunned DePaul 85-82.

DePaul led 41-21 at halftime when Creighton made it a game. The Bluejays opened the third quarter on a 17-2 run to draw within 43-38 with 4:21 left. Twice Creighton came within two points. The first time, Held and Campbell hit three foul shots. The second time, Stonewall converted a three-point play.

After being outscored 25-8 in the third quarter, DePaul went into the final 10 minutes with a precarious 49-46 lead.

Stonewall welcomed Creighton to the South Loop with the patented fade-away jumper she learned as a youngster while imitating Kobe Bryant. Held knocked down a three-pointer and less than two minutes after the opening tip, Bluejays coach Jim Flanery called timeout.

Stonewall, Deja Church and Held added to the fast start, and before you knew it, the Blue Demons led 11-0. Morris, Church and Held maintained the initial charge, and after Stonewall swished a three, it was 20-5 after one quarter.

The Bluejays were within 24-15 early in the second quarter when Bruno & Co. lengthened their lead. Church's three-point play ignited a 12-0 run and the first 20-point margin of the night at 36-15. Campbell swished a three and Dee Bekelja scored on a nice feed from Maya Stovall.

A Bekelja three-pointer and Stovall's score put their team ahead 41-21 at halftime. Stonewall had 11 points and seven rebounds at the break and Campbell already had 10 rebounds. Held, Church and Morris combined for 21 points. DePaul's pressure forced 14 first-half Bluejay turnovers.

DePaul is right back here at Wintrust Arena on Super Bowl Sunday for a BIG EAST matchup against Providence.

Postgame Notes

Since BIG EAST realignment (2013-14), Bruno's program is tops among all men's and women's teams with a 100-18 record in conference play. The Villanova men's team is second.
The Blue Demons have forced 20 or more turnovers in all but four games this season. St. John's has the lowest count with 10, Georgetown had 15, Creighton 16 in the first game and Villanova 17.
Stonewall's 14 rebounds tied a career high.
The 20 points combined in the third and fourth quarter is the lowest by DePaul in a half this season.
The Blue Demons' four field goals behind the arc is the lowest of the season.
The 61 points and eight assists were season lows.
DePaul went into the game ranked second in the nation in three-pointers and scoring, third in assists and turnover margin, fourth in steals and fifth in assist-turnover ratio.
In the latest NCAA RPI, DePaul is ranked No. 16.
At halftime of Monday's Oregon-Connecticut game on ESPN2 the NCAA will have its first reveal of top 16 seeds for the NCAA women's tournament. The second and final reveal is Feb. 3.
Campbell is No. 4 in career assists with 591. Chanise Jenkins is No. 3 with 670. Campbell came into the game leading the nation in assist-turnover ratio.
Campbell has passed WNBA Draft pick Felicia Chester, Beth Hasenmiller and Megan Podkowa for seventh in all-time rebounds with 888. JoAnn Feiereisel is No. 6 at 984.
Stonewall has scored in double figures the last 16 games in a row and 21 of 22 on the season.
Stonewall is No. 19 with in career scoring with 1,428 points passing Jasmine Penny (1,417) and Latasha Byears (1,423). Megan Podkowa (1,481) is No. 18.