Sunday, February 16
McGrath-Phillips Arena
2:00 P.M. CT
DePaul University
24-3,14-1Big East
97
vs
65
Xavier
2-23,1-13Big East
1
2
3
4
F
Xavier
13
24
19
9
65
DePaul
23
19
31
24
97
No. 13/13 DePaul Clinches Share of BIG EAST Title
2/16/2020 5:43:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Sunday's 97-65 win over Xavier brings sixth regular-season title in seven years
CHICAGO – What a way to celebrate the final home game at McGrath-Phillips Arena in the magnificent careers of Chante Stonewall and Kelly Campbell.
No. 13/13 DePaul's 97-65 victory over Xavier on Sunday clinched at least a share of the BIG EAST regular-season title---the Blue Demons' sixth in the last seven years.
The senior duo and their teammates donned T-shirts and took turns carrying the trophy signifying the splendid achievement while simply enjoying every moment of this postgame celebration.
It was a moment made possible by the inspiring leadership, blue-collar work ethic and eye-opening production of Stonewall and Campbell who are among the nation's best at their respective positions.
And if this latest creation of iconic coach Doug Bruno is to make a deep run into the postseason, it will be done on the backs of Stonewall and Campbell.
But time enough for that later. Sunday's fifth win in a row produced five Blue Demons in double figures led by Lexi Held's 26 points that featured a trio of three-point plays. Stonewall had 15 points and five rebounds while Sonya Morris turned in a complete line with 15 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals.
Dee Bekelja came off the bench to score 11 points and Kelly Campbell contributed nine points and eight assists. Her final assist was something to remember.
She and Stonewall noticed subs were waiting to replace them in the fourth quarter. With that, they made eye contact and Campbell served up her specialty in the form of a visionary pass. Stonewall did what she does best and sealed the deal with a layup.
"We could see coach Bruno was going to take us out of the game," Campbell said. "So I made one last connection with Chante in McGrath-Phillips Arena."
The Blue Demons only led by five at halftime but initiated the third quarter with a 12-2 run featuring a pair of Stonewall baskets and three-pointers by Morris and Church, forcing Xavier coach Melanie Moore to call a timeout trailing 52-39.
Church made it 54-39 before the Musketeers scored the next five. That mini-run was snapped by Held's third three-point play. It was 57-47 at the third quarter media timeout.
Xavier pulled within eight when explosive DePaul (24-3, 14-1) ran off 12-straight for a 73-53 advantage near the end of the third quarter. Held had 25 points, just three shy of her career high as her team led 73-56 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Stonewall opened the fourth quarter with a three-point play that kick-started a 15-4 run. Campbell hit three consecutive shots from behind the arc as DePaul pulled away 88-60 at the media timeout.
Right from the start, the Blue Demons made sure no one spoiled this special occasion. The home team opened with an 11-2 burst after the opening tip sparked by Morris' pair of three-pointers and a layup as Blue Demon partisans were still setting into their seats.
Xavier's coach immediately called timeout, to no avail. It was 15-2 before Xavier (2-23, 1-13) would score again. The Musketeers did go on an 8-2 spurt to come within six, but a Held jumper and free throws by Kiara Dallmann and Dee Bekelja provided a 23-13 lead after the first quarter.
Xavier scored the first eight points of the second quarter and suddenly that early 13-point lead was trimmed to 23-21 as Bruno signaled for a timeout.
That's when Held came to the rescue. The smooth sophomore hit a pull-up jumper to start a personal 13-point outburst that featured a pair of three-point plays, a connection from behind the arc and another pull-up jumper.
The Musketeers stayed close, and Held's three-point play just before halftime put the home team in front 42-37 at the break. Held had 17 points at that point and Morris 12.
The BIG EAST champion Blue Demons are back in action Friday with a matchup against Georgetown in Our Nation's Capital.
Postgame Notes
No. 13/13 DePaul's 97-65 victory over Xavier on Sunday clinched at least a share of the BIG EAST regular-season title---the Blue Demons' sixth in the last seven years.
The senior duo and their teammates donned T-shirts and took turns carrying the trophy signifying the splendid achievement while simply enjoying every moment of this postgame celebration.
It was a moment made possible by the inspiring leadership, blue-collar work ethic and eye-opening production of Stonewall and Campbell who are among the nation's best at their respective positions.
And if this latest creation of iconic coach Doug Bruno is to make a deep run into the postseason, it will be done on the backs of Stonewall and Campbell.
But time enough for that later. Sunday's fifth win in a row produced five Blue Demons in double figures led by Lexi Held's 26 points that featured a trio of three-point plays. Stonewall had 15 points and five rebounds while Sonya Morris turned in a complete line with 15 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals.
Dee Bekelja came off the bench to score 11 points and Kelly Campbell contributed nine points and eight assists. Her final assist was something to remember.
She and Stonewall noticed subs were waiting to replace them in the fourth quarter. With that, they made eye contact and Campbell served up her specialty in the form of a visionary pass. Stonewall did what she does best and sealed the deal with a layup.
"We could see coach Bruno was going to take us out of the game," Campbell said. "So I made one last connection with Chante in McGrath-Phillips Arena."
The Blue Demons only led by five at halftime but initiated the third quarter with a 12-2 run featuring a pair of Stonewall baskets and three-pointers by Morris and Church, forcing Xavier coach Melanie Moore to call a timeout trailing 52-39.
Church made it 54-39 before the Musketeers scored the next five. That mini-run was snapped by Held's third three-point play. It was 57-47 at the third quarter media timeout.
Xavier pulled within eight when explosive DePaul (24-3, 14-1) ran off 12-straight for a 73-53 advantage near the end of the third quarter. Held had 25 points, just three shy of her career high as her team led 73-56 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Stonewall opened the fourth quarter with a three-point play that kick-started a 15-4 run. Campbell hit three consecutive shots from behind the arc as DePaul pulled away 88-60 at the media timeout.
Right from the start, the Blue Demons made sure no one spoiled this special occasion. The home team opened with an 11-2 burst after the opening tip sparked by Morris' pair of three-pointers and a layup as Blue Demon partisans were still setting into their seats.
Xavier's coach immediately called timeout, to no avail. It was 15-2 before Xavier (2-23, 1-13) would score again. The Musketeers did go on an 8-2 spurt to come within six, but a Held jumper and free throws by Kiara Dallmann and Dee Bekelja provided a 23-13 lead after the first quarter.
Xavier scored the first eight points of the second quarter and suddenly that early 13-point lead was trimmed to 23-21 as Bruno signaled for a timeout.
That's when Held came to the rescue. The smooth sophomore hit a pull-up jumper to start a personal 13-point outburst that featured a pair of three-point plays, a connection from behind the arc and another pull-up jumper.
The Musketeers stayed close, and Held's three-point play just before halftime put the home team in front 42-37 at the break. Held had 17 points at that point and Morris 12.
The BIG EAST champion Blue Demons are back in action Friday with a matchup against Georgetown in Our Nation's Capital.
Postgame Notes
- Ryan Grebner of DePaul Sports Medicine was honored before the game for serving as team trainer for the USA Basketball U16 girls national team that won the gold medal last summer at the FIBA Americas Championship in Chile.
- Held set a career highs with 11 free throws in 13 attempts.
- This is the ninth time DePaul has scored 90 or more points in a game this season.
- The Blue Demons have won 15 of their last 16 games.
- Since BIG EAST realignment (2013-14), Bruno's program is tops among all men's and women's teams with a 105-18 record in conference play. The Villanova men's team is second.
- This was the 913th win in program history.
- The Blue Demons generated 26 Xavier turnovers and 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 634. 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 941. JoAnn Feiereisel is No. 6 at 984.
- Stonewall has scored in double figures the last 21 games in a row and 26 of 27 on the season.
- Stonewall is No. 18 with in career scoring with 1,518 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.
Team Stats
XU
DePaul
FG%
.481
.463
3FG%
.200
.281
FT%
.714
.897
RB
34
33
TO
26
11
STL
6
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Guard
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Guard
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Forward
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