Saturday, November 27
St. Thomas, USVI
Noon CT
DePaul University
5-2,0-0Big East
91
vs
74
Vanderbilt
4-3,0-0SEC
1
2
3
4
F
Vanderbilt
26
18
8
22
74
DePaul
12
25
26
28
91
Morris and Morrow Deliver Sweet Victory over Vanderbilt 91-74
11/27/2021 3:27:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Morris scores career-high 36 points, Morrow has 28 points and 15 rebounds
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – Sonya Morris and Aneesah Morrow concocted a sweet treat for Blue Demon Nation on Saturday.
This M&M combo was a confectionary delight for DePaul fans as Morris scored a career-high 36 points and Morrow had another monster game with 28 points, 15 rebounds and five steals in a 91-74 victory over Vanderbilt at the Paradise Jam.
Saying good-bye to paradise and sun-splashed beach days with temps in the 80s won't be easy, but the farewell success means coach Doug Bruno's team won two of three in the U.S. Virgin Islands with the loss coming in a close game against No. 9/12 Arizona.
Overall, a pretty good showing.
In addition to Morris & Morrow, Lexi Held came through with nine points, six steals, five assists and settled her teammates down after initially being thrown off their game by Vanderbilt's five-guard pressure defense.
Morris' 36 points was just six shy of the all-time DePaul record set by Beth Hasenmiller in 1991. Morris went 7-of-9 from three-point range and knocked down 14 field goals---both career marks.
Morris and Morrow combined to score 64 points while also contributing 21 rebounds and seven steals. The M&M duo went 8-for-10 behind the arc as DePaul improved to 5-2.
There was a sequence in the fourth quarter in which Morris was in her own little zone. She made five consecutive baskets including four from distance. That 14-point outburst finished off Vanderbilt (4-4).
Trailing 44-37, the Blue Demons were looking to match Vanderbilt's energy level at the outset of the third quarter.
That's exactly what happened as DePaul opened with a 9-0 run in seizing a 46-44 lead after a Morrow score inside. Morris made the first two baskets and added another for a 50-49 lead at the media timeout.
M&M continued their assault with another Morrow score in the low block followed by a Morris three off a scrappy Dee Bekelja offensive rebound and assist. At the second media timeout, the Blue Demons led 55-51.
That 9-0 run evolved into 13-1 as Morrow scored six of the final eight points in the quarter for DePaul which led 63-52 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Morrow was battling relentlessly inside for rebounds, absorbing body blows down low without a complaint. She seemed determined to get every single one.
Perhaps it's the upbringing of a tough mom and dad who played basketball (Nafeesah) and football (Edward) at Nebraska along with getting knocked around by an older brother Ed who played at Nebraska and Marquette---but Aneesah Morrow has yet to complain to a referee about the physical shots directed her way.
Morris' scoring binge midway through the fourth quarter sparked DePaul to a 79-60 advantage at the media timeout.
Held's two baskets made it 84-62 and Bruno cleared his bench a minute later.
Vanderbilt's scrappy, undersized lineup came out highly energized from the opening tip, taking it right to the Blue Demons. It didn't help that the Lincoln Park Five had more turnovers than points early on.
Morrow and Morris scored their team's first seven points to trail 10-7 at the first quarter media timeout.
Nothing was going right for the team in white that would commit 20 turnovers in the first half. Vandy took full advantage with a 13-1 run and led 21-8 late in the first quarter.
Vandy maintained the pressure, and the fast pace was disrupting DePaul's usual offensive flow as DePaul fell behind 26-9. Usually, it's coach Doug Bruno's team doing the disrupting.
A Morris three-pointer made it 26-12 after one quarter.
Morrow was asserting herself early in the second quarter, and along with scoring from Morris and Dee Bekelja brought her team within 35-24 at the media timeout.
That M&M combo of sparked a 9-2 Blue Demon surge in making it a six-point game after trailing by 17 late in the first quarter.
Held's layup off a sharp pass from Morris left DePaul down 44-37 at halftime. That last score before the break was orchestrated by two seniors who know each other so well after four years together. It was as if Held instinctively cut to the low block and Morris found her without really looking.
Morrow had 14 points, four rebounds, three steals and a block at halftime while Morris had 12 points and four assists. Bekelja contributed a key seven points off the bench.
Shooting nearly 65 percent from the field allowed Bruno & Co. to outscore the Commodores 25-18 in the second quarter.
DePaul is back home at Wintrust Arena on Friday for its BIG EAST opener against Butler that tips at 7 p.m. and will be shown on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
Postgame Notes
This M&M combo was a confectionary delight for DePaul fans as Morris scored a career-high 36 points and Morrow had another monster game with 28 points, 15 rebounds and five steals in a 91-74 victory over Vanderbilt at the Paradise Jam.
Saying good-bye to paradise and sun-splashed beach days with temps in the 80s won't be easy, but the farewell success means coach Doug Bruno's team won two of three in the U.S. Virgin Islands with the loss coming in a close game against No. 9/12 Arizona.
Overall, a pretty good showing.
In addition to Morris & Morrow, Lexi Held came through with nine points, six steals, five assists and settled her teammates down after initially being thrown off their game by Vanderbilt's five-guard pressure defense.
Morris' 36 points was just six shy of the all-time DePaul record set by Beth Hasenmiller in 1991. Morris went 7-of-9 from three-point range and knocked down 14 field goals---both career marks.
Morris and Morrow combined to score 64 points while also contributing 21 rebounds and seven steals. The M&M duo went 8-for-10 behind the arc as DePaul improved to 5-2.
There was a sequence in the fourth quarter in which Morris was in her own little zone. She made five consecutive baskets including four from distance. That 14-point outburst finished off Vanderbilt (4-4).
Trailing 44-37, the Blue Demons were looking to match Vanderbilt's energy level at the outset of the third quarter.
That's exactly what happened as DePaul opened with a 9-0 run in seizing a 46-44 lead after a Morrow score inside. Morris made the first two baskets and added another for a 50-49 lead at the media timeout.
M&M continued their assault with another Morrow score in the low block followed by a Morris three off a scrappy Dee Bekelja offensive rebound and assist. At the second media timeout, the Blue Demons led 55-51.
That 9-0 run evolved into 13-1 as Morrow scored six of the final eight points in the quarter for DePaul which led 63-52 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Morrow was battling relentlessly inside for rebounds, absorbing body blows down low without a complaint. She seemed determined to get every single one.
Perhaps it's the upbringing of a tough mom and dad who played basketball (Nafeesah) and football (Edward) at Nebraska along with getting knocked around by an older brother Ed who played at Nebraska and Marquette---but Aneesah Morrow has yet to complain to a referee about the physical shots directed her way.
Morris' scoring binge midway through the fourth quarter sparked DePaul to a 79-60 advantage at the media timeout.
Held's two baskets made it 84-62 and Bruno cleared his bench a minute later.
Vanderbilt's scrappy, undersized lineup came out highly energized from the opening tip, taking it right to the Blue Demons. It didn't help that the Lincoln Park Five had more turnovers than points early on.
Morrow and Morris scored their team's first seven points to trail 10-7 at the first quarter media timeout.
Nothing was going right for the team in white that would commit 20 turnovers in the first half. Vandy took full advantage with a 13-1 run and led 21-8 late in the first quarter.
Vandy maintained the pressure, and the fast pace was disrupting DePaul's usual offensive flow as DePaul fell behind 26-9. Usually, it's coach Doug Bruno's team doing the disrupting.
A Morris three-pointer made it 26-12 after one quarter.
Morrow was asserting herself early in the second quarter, and along with scoring from Morris and Dee Bekelja brought her team within 35-24 at the media timeout.
That M&M combo of sparked a 9-2 Blue Demon surge in making it a six-point game after trailing by 17 late in the first quarter.
Held's layup off a sharp pass from Morris left DePaul down 44-37 at halftime. That last score before the break was orchestrated by two seniors who know each other so well after four years together. It was as if Held instinctively cut to the low block and Morris found her without really looking.
Morrow had 14 points, four rebounds, three steals and a block at halftime while Morris had 12 points and four assists. Bekelja contributed a key seven points off the bench.
Shooting nearly 65 percent from the field allowed Bruno & Co. to outscore the Commodores 25-18 in the second quarter.
DePaul is back home at Wintrust Arena on Friday for its BIG EAST opener against Butler that tips at 7 p.m. and will be shown on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
Postgame Notes
- Morris' career-high 36 points was six shy of the all-time DePaul record set by Beth Hasenmiller in 1991.
- She also set career highs with 14 field goals and seven 3-pointers (in nine attempts).
- Morrow recorded the second consecutive double-double of her young career with 28 points and 15 rebounds, and it's her third double-double in seven games.
- Morrow has 52 points, 31 rebounds and 10 steals in her last two games---an average of 26 points, 15.5 rebounds and five steals.
- Morris and Morrow were voted onto the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team along with MVP Cate Reese and Sam Thomas of Arizona and Vanderbilt point guard Jordyn Cambridge.
- After the first six games, DePaul (590 points) is averaging 84.2 points a game.
- Bruno & Co. outscored Vanderbilt 51-26 in the second and third quarters.
- The Blue Demons went from being down 17 points late in the first quarter to a 24-point lead late in the fourth quarter---a massive 41-point swing.
- DePaul was a season-best 11-of-23 from three-point range.
- Both of the Blue Demon losses this season have come to Top 25 teams---Texas A&M and Arizona.
- Held was the BIG EAST's active career scoring leader in conference games with 697 points going into the Paradise Jam.
- Morrow has scored in double figures six of the first seven games of her collegiate career.
- Church has finished in double figures every game except one this season.
- The Blue Demons have won the battle of the boards in five of seven games this season including over No. 9/12 Arizona. They topped Vandy 36-33.
- DePaul's pressure defense forced Vanderbilt into 26 turnovers.
- DePaul committed 20 turnovers in the first half and four the rest of the way.
Team Stats
Vandy
DePaul
FG%
.453
.493
3FG%
.273
.478
FT%
.714
.750
RB
33
36
TO
26
24
STL
12
14
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
36
FGM
14
3FGM
7
FTM
1
Pts
28
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
9
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALLG
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALLF
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALLDemon Docs: Welcome Head Coach Jill M. Pizzotti
Tuesday, April 29
Episode 19: Jill M. Pizzotti, Women's Basketball Head Coach
Wednesday, April 16
Jill M. Pizzotti Introductory Press Conference
Tuesday, April 15
DePaul Women's Basketball: Jill Pizzotti Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, April 10