Friday, December 4
Uncasville, Conn.
5:30 p.m. CT
DePaul University
1-2,0-0Big East
116
vs
75
Louisville
3-0,0-0ACC
1
2
3
4
F
Louisville
30
31
40
15
116
DePaul
24
13
17
21
75
Cold Shooting Results in 116-75 Loss for No. 20/19 DePaul
12/4/2020 7:50:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Missed first 15 three-pointers in 116-75 loss to No. 5/5 Louisville
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Every season, without fail, four or five teams separate themselves from the rest of the nation's Top 25.
On Friday night before an ESPN nationwide audience, No. 20/19 DePaul fell 116-75 to No 5/5 Louisville---a legitimate national title contender.
In the best game of her brief collegiate career, Darrione Rogers led the Blue Demons with 25 points. Dee Bekelja added 18 and Lexi Held finished with 12.
The pace was so frenetic right from the opening tip that a Louisville player waved to the bench for a substitute four minutes into the game. The Cardinals shot out to an 11-3 advantage, but four Darrione Rogers points and a nice drive by Held cut it to 11-9.
It was 14-9 at the first quarter media timeout, but the Blue Demons were now in the bonus. DePaul stayed within striking distance, and Morris' free throw followed immediately by a steal and layup brought her team close at 22-19.
Rogers had a nice offensive burst and kept the Blue Demons within 28-24. It was 30-24 after one quarter with Rogers scoring eight and Held seven.
The Cards opened the second quarter with back-to-back scores inside by 6-5 Elizabeth Dixon to open up a 10-point margin. DePaul coach Doug Bruno signaled for a timeout.
What came next was the defining point of the game. Right after Held was whistled for her third foul and had to sit, Louisville took control with a 21-4 run for a 59-32 lead.
A leading cause of the tough second quarter was DePaul missing its first 14 attempts from three-point range. Dee Bekelja finally ended the drought with a three to make it 61-35. A pair of Rogers foul shots left her team down 61-37 at halftime.
Rogers and Bekelja each had 10 points at the break, and Bekelja added a team-high six rebounds. The backboard battle was a bright spot as the Blue Demons only trailed 30-26 in rebounds in the first half.
Louisville (3-0) opened the second quarter with an 11-3 burst and it was 72-40 when Bruno called a timeout. The deficit was 80-44 at the third quarter media timeout.
Bekelja's three-pointer made it 99-54 after three quarters.
Postgame Notes
On Friday night before an ESPN nationwide audience, No. 20/19 DePaul fell 116-75 to No 5/5 Louisville---a legitimate national title contender.
In the best game of her brief collegiate career, Darrione Rogers led the Blue Demons with 25 points. Dee Bekelja added 18 and Lexi Held finished with 12.
The pace was so frenetic right from the opening tip that a Louisville player waved to the bench for a substitute four minutes into the game. The Cardinals shot out to an 11-3 advantage, but four Darrione Rogers points and a nice drive by Held cut it to 11-9.
It was 14-9 at the first quarter media timeout, but the Blue Demons were now in the bonus. DePaul stayed within striking distance, and Morris' free throw followed immediately by a steal and layup brought her team close at 22-19.
Rogers had a nice offensive burst and kept the Blue Demons within 28-24. It was 30-24 after one quarter with Rogers scoring eight and Held seven.
The Cards opened the second quarter with back-to-back scores inside by 6-5 Elizabeth Dixon to open up a 10-point margin. DePaul coach Doug Bruno signaled for a timeout.
What came next was the defining point of the game. Right after Held was whistled for her third foul and had to sit, Louisville took control with a 21-4 run for a 59-32 lead.
A leading cause of the tough second quarter was DePaul missing its first 14 attempts from three-point range. Dee Bekelja finally ended the drought with a three to make it 61-35. A pair of Rogers foul shots left her team down 61-37 at halftime.
Rogers and Bekelja each had 10 points at the break, and Bekelja added a team-high six rebounds. The backboard battle was a bright spot as the Blue Demons only trailed 30-26 in rebounds in the first half.
Louisville (3-0) opened the second quarter with an 11-3 burst and it was 72-40 when Bruno called a timeout. The deficit was 80-44 at the third quarter media timeout.
Bekelja's three-pointer made it 99-54 after three quarters.
Postgame Notes
- Deja Church needs 120 points to reach the 1,000 mark in her career. That includes two seasons at Michigan. Lexi Held is 201 away from accomplishing the feat in just three seasons, and classmate Sonya Morris is 277 shy.
- The ESPN broadcast team of Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo pledged $50 for each three-point basket at tonight's game to the V Foundation honoring the legacy of former North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano who inspired millions before passing away from cancer in 1993 at the age 47.
- Upon reading Lobo's tweet, Bruno raised the stakes, pledging $50 for each made three-pointer AND every assist for both teams. Bruno knew Valvano personally and became close to his brother, Nick, while working on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Yow is the former NC State women's basketball coach who waged a courageous battle against breast cancer before succumbing in 2009.
- Bruno's total contribution will come to $2,300.
- DePaul shot 28.4 percent from the field and 14.8 percent from three-point range.
- Bruno started the game with a five-guard lineup of Morris, Held, Church, Bekelja and Maya Stovall.
Team Stats
LOU
DePaul
FG%
.605
.284
3FG%
.375
.148
FT%
.750
.676
RB
55
40
TO
22
20
STL
8
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
12
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
G
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALLG
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALLG
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