No. 13/13 DePaul Takes Down Butler 89-60

Friday, February 14

McGrath-Phillips Arena

7:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

23-3,13-1Big East

Butler

17-7,9-4Big East

Butler

DePaul

2/14/2020 10:18:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Morris, Church, Stonewall, Campbell combine for 68 points on Friday night

CHICAGO – No. 13/13 DePaul took a significant step Friday on its quest for a BIG EAST regular-season title.

The Blue Demons came through with a resounding 89-60 triumph over second-place Butler and are one win away from clinching a share of the league title. Coach Doug Bruno's team is 23-3 overall and 13-1 in the BIG EAST.

Sonya Morris connected on 5-of-11 attempts from three-point range on her way to a game-high 23 points. That quintet of trifectas matches a career high. Deja Church, who played her first two years at Michigan, set a DePaul career high and matched her overall career best with 19 points.

Steady Chante Stonewall came away with 17 points, and the senior forward has scored in double figures every game but one this season. Classmate Kelly Campbell ended up one measly point away from her second triple-double of the season with nine points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Lexi Held contributed eight points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals.

The beginning of the second half was the defining point of this game. Team DePaul scored the first eight points of the third quarter extended the run to 19-8 by the media timeout. Igniting the surge were three-pointers by Morris, Church, Held and Campbell along with an old-fashioned three-point play from Stonewall.

It is offensive bursts like these that enable the Blue Demons to secure a lead as they moved in front 62-40. It can also serve to demoralize the opposition.

After a pair of Dee Bekelja free throws, Morris hit back-to-back swishes from deep and it was 70-44 at the second media timeout of the quarter. The Blue Demons were 12-of-27 from behind the arc at that point.

A Stonewall score put DePaul up 74-50 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

Morris scored and Church hit a three and a jumper to open the fourth quarter. Another Morris basket made it 83-54 at the media timeout. At that point, Campbell had nine points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists---one point shy of a third career triple-double that would have set a DePaul record. The stellar senior came out of the game after a job well done.

DePaul opened the game with a Stonewall score inside followed by a Held steal off the full-court press and a dish to Church for a layup.

Butler responded with the next seven points. Baskets by Stonewall and Morris followed by a pair of Stonewall free throws put the home team in front 13-9 at the first quarter media timeout. DePaul had forced five Bulldog turnovers in the first five minutes.

It was 15-15 when the Blue Demons finished the first quarter with a flourish. A pair of three-pointers from Morris and one each from Held and Campbell launched a 12-4 run and a 27-19 lead after the first 10 minutes. Morris & Co. were 5-of-10 from deep.

The margin grew to 11 at the second quarter media timeout after two Kiara Dallmann free throws, a Church foul shot followed by a layup on the next possession.

Another Church connection made it 37-24. The Bulldogs ran off five in a row until Church struck again with a pair of foul shots and Stonewall scored off a steal.

Who else but Church would score the final basket of the first half on a nice drive to the basket for a 43-31 lead. Church had 11 points at the break, Morris 10 and Stonewall eight.

Postgame Notes

Campbell was honored before the game for scoring 1,000 points in her collegiate career.
Church set a DePaul career record and tied her overall record with 19 points.
Morris tied her career high with five connections behind the arc.
Since BIG EAST realignment (2013-14), Bruno's program is tops among all men's and women's teams with a 104-18 record in conference play. The Villanova men's team is second.
This was the 910th win in program history.
The Blue Demons have forced 20 or more turnovers in all but six games this season.
DePaul went into the game ranked second in the nation in three-pointers, third in scoring, fourth in assists, steals and turnover margin, sixth in assist-turnover ratio and seventh in turnovers forced. Campbell leads the nation in assist-turnover ratio and is sixth in assists. Stonewall is No. 9 in field goals and No. 12 in shot attempts.
In the latest NCAA RPI, DePaul is ranked No. 20.
Campbell is No. 4 in career assists with 626. Chanise Jenkins is No. 3 with 670.
Campbell has passed WNBA Draft pick Felicia Chester, Beth Hasenmiller and Megan Podkowa for seventh in all-time rebounds with 938. JoAnn Feiereisel is No. 6 at 984.
Stonewall has scored in double figures the last 20 games in a row and 25 of 26 on the season.
Stonewall is No. 18 with in career scoring with 1,503 points and Jessica January is No. 17 with 1,530. Melanee Ehrhardt is No. 16 with 1,552 and Mfon Udoka No. 15 with 1,569.