Thursday, December 16
Chicago, Ill.
7:00 P.M. CT
DePaul University
10-2,2-0Big East
103
vs
71
Northern Illinois
3-5,0-0MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Northern Ill.
9
14
28
20
71
DePaul
21
19
37
26
103
DePaul's Season-High 18 Three-Pointers Light Up Northern Illinois 103-71
12/16/2021 10:12:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Blue Demons' 33 assists sixth-best single-game mark in program history
CHICAGO – DePaul leads the nation in scoring and assists---could coach Doug Bruno's program keep up this blistering pace?
Ask, and ye shall receive.
After averaging 99.5 points in four previous games, the Blue Demons are now averaging 100.2 points a game over their last five after Thursday night's 103-71 triumph over Northern Illinois.
Knocking down a season-high 18 three-pointers and converting 40 percent from long distance is a big reason why Bruno's program won its sixth in a row and improved to 10-2 on the season.
DePaul launched 101 shots which is second all-time in program history to the 105 unleashed against Harper College in 1978. That's 43 years ago.
The Blue Demons had a season-high 61 rebounds along with a season-high 33 assists on 42 baskets.
And how much fun was it when Bruno & Co. swished six 3-pointers in a row during a third quarter that saw them score 37 points---sixth best in program history.
Total team effort. That's what happens when you get a bunch of authentic basketball players who genuinely enjoy sharing the rock.
"I get more fun out of making an assist than scoring a basket," said USBWA National Freshman of the Week Aneesah Morrow who racked up her fourth consecutive double-double and seventh of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
Teammate Darrione Rogers (20 points) agreed that being unselfish is the way of the world for her teammates.
Deja Church turned in another sparkling performance with 18 points and seven rebounds. Lexi Held had 14 points and seven assists while Dee Bekelja energized the team off the bench with 15 points and nine rebounds going 5-of-8 from behind the arc.
On a night when Sonya Morris scored an uncharacteristic seven points, the heady senior leader did her best work behind the scenes with a career-high 10 assists.
It was time to pad a 40-23 halftime lead after the DePaul defense limited Northern Illinois (3-5) to 26.3 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes.
Morrow scored twice and Church once at the outset of the third quarter for a 48-25 cushion. NIU responded with seven unanswered points that was snapped with a Held three-pointer. The Blue Demons led 49-32 at the media timeout.
Rogers started an offensive avalanche with a regular old jumper. Then Rogers, Dee Bekelja, Held, Rogers again, Morris and Bekelja again combined to knock down six consecutive three-pointers for a 71-41 lead at the media timeout.
NIU came within 73-51 until Church closed out the third quarter with consecutive baskets and a 77-51 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes.
Rogers had 20 points, Church 15, Held 14 at that point and Morrow 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Church and Bekelja connected from afar and Morrow continued doing her yeoman work in the land down under for an 87-51 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Rogers scored DePaul's first points after the opening tip on a layup and a three-pointer. NIU drew even at 5-5 until a 9-0 Blue Demon burst put the home team in front 14-7 at the first quarter media timeout.
Morrow scored twice inside, Church hit a jumper and Held knocked down a shot from long distance.
The DePaul run grew to 16-0 late in the fourth quarter in seizing a 21-5 lead. Northern Illinois scored the final two baskets of the quarter and trailed 21-9 after the first 10 minutes.
The visiting Huskies opened the second quarter with an 8-2 run in coming within 23-17. Rogers scored to make it 25-17 at the media timeout. DePaul's play was a little ragged and the home team had made just 11-of-38 shots at that point.
Out of the minibreak, Dee Bekelja and Rogers buried back-to-back threes. After an NIU score, Hannah Purcell and Rogers scored and Held followed with another tree for a 38-19 advantage. Morris' driving shot put her team ahead 40-23 at halftime.
Rogers had 12 points at the break and Church seven. Morrow had six points and nine rebounds, Held six and Morris four points, seven assists and three steals.
DePaul hits the road for a BIG EAST showdown Sunday at St. John's that tips at noon.
Postgame Notes
Ask, and ye shall receive.
After averaging 99.5 points in four previous games, the Blue Demons are now averaging 100.2 points a game over their last five after Thursday night's 103-71 triumph over Northern Illinois.
Knocking down a season-high 18 three-pointers and converting 40 percent from long distance is a big reason why Bruno's program won its sixth in a row and improved to 10-2 on the season.
DePaul launched 101 shots which is second all-time in program history to the 105 unleashed against Harper College in 1978. That's 43 years ago.
The Blue Demons had a season-high 61 rebounds along with a season-high 33 assists on 42 baskets.
And how much fun was it when Bruno & Co. swished six 3-pointers in a row during a third quarter that saw them score 37 points---sixth best in program history.
Total team effort. That's what happens when you get a bunch of authentic basketball players who genuinely enjoy sharing the rock.
"I get more fun out of making an assist than scoring a basket," said USBWA National Freshman of the Week Aneesah Morrow who racked up her fourth consecutive double-double and seventh of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
Teammate Darrione Rogers (20 points) agreed that being unselfish is the way of the world for her teammates.
Deja Church turned in another sparkling performance with 18 points and seven rebounds. Lexi Held had 14 points and seven assists while Dee Bekelja energized the team off the bench with 15 points and nine rebounds going 5-of-8 from behind the arc.
On a night when Sonya Morris scored an uncharacteristic seven points, the heady senior leader did her best work behind the scenes with a career-high 10 assists.
It was time to pad a 40-23 halftime lead after the DePaul defense limited Northern Illinois (3-5) to 26.3 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes.
Morrow scored twice and Church once at the outset of the third quarter for a 48-25 cushion. NIU responded with seven unanswered points that was snapped with a Held three-pointer. The Blue Demons led 49-32 at the media timeout.
Rogers started an offensive avalanche with a regular old jumper. Then Rogers, Dee Bekelja, Held, Rogers again, Morris and Bekelja again combined to knock down six consecutive three-pointers for a 71-41 lead at the media timeout.
NIU came within 73-51 until Church closed out the third quarter with consecutive baskets and a 77-51 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes.
Rogers had 20 points, Church 15, Held 14 at that point and Morrow 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Church and Bekelja connected from afar and Morrow continued doing her yeoman work in the land down under for an 87-51 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Rogers scored DePaul's first points after the opening tip on a layup and a three-pointer. NIU drew even at 5-5 until a 9-0 Blue Demon burst put the home team in front 14-7 at the first quarter media timeout.
Morrow scored twice inside, Church hit a jumper and Held knocked down a shot from long distance.
The DePaul run grew to 16-0 late in the fourth quarter in seizing a 21-5 lead. Northern Illinois scored the final two baskets of the quarter and trailed 21-9 after the first 10 minutes.
The visiting Huskies opened the second quarter with an 8-2 run in coming within 23-17. Rogers scored to make it 25-17 at the media timeout. DePaul's play was a little ragged and the home team had made just 11-of-38 shots at that point.
Out of the minibreak, Dee Bekelja and Rogers buried back-to-back threes. After an NIU score, Hannah Purcell and Rogers scored and Held followed with another tree for a 38-19 advantage. Morris' driving shot put her team ahead 40-23 at halftime.
Rogers had 12 points at the break and Church seven. Morrow had six points and nine rebounds, Held six and Morris four points, seven assists and three steals.
DePaul hits the road for a BIG EAST showdown Sunday at St. John's that tips at noon.
Postgame Notes
- The Blue Demons lead the country in scoring and assists and have scored 501 points in their last five games---an average of 100.2 per game. They have reached the century mark four times in the last five games.
- The 101 field goal attempts on Thursday is second all-time in program history to the 105 shots taken against Harper College in 1978.
- DePaul's 37 points in the third quarter tied for sixth all-time in points for a quarter.
- Led by Morris' career-high 10 assists, her team's 33 assists is sixth all-time.
- The 45 three-point attempts is is tied for fourth all-time.
- The Blue Demons established season highs in assists, rebounds (61), shots and three-pointers.
- Morrow came into the game as the nation's leading scorer and rebounder among freshmen. She has four consecutive double-doubles and six in her last seven games.
- Morrow has 137 points and 98 rebounds in her last seven games---an average of 19.6 points and 14 rebounds.
- The 6-1 freshman has seven double-doubles and has scored 20 points or more in four of 12 games---among the BIG EAST leaders in both categories.
- DePaul has reached the century mark five times this season. The program record is six in 2014-15 (Brittany Hrynko, Jess January, Chanise Jenkins, Megan Rogowski) and 2016-17 (January, Brooke Schulte, Jacqui Grant, Amarah Coleman).
- Held (1,318 points) passed Jenna Rubino (1,314) for No. 24 on the all-time scoring list, and Morris (1,310) is No. 26.
- Dee Bekelja is No. 20 among active NCAA Division I players in career games played and No. 11 all-time at DePaul. Mart'e Grays is No. 10 at 133.
- The Blue Demons are 3-2 against five NCAA tournament teams---beating Kentucky, Northwestern and Rutgers and falling to No. 23/17 Texas A&M and No. 4/8 Arizona.
- Held is the BIG EAST's active career scoring leader in conference games with 729 points.
- Morrow has scored in double figures 11 of the first 12 games of her collegiate career.
- The Blue Demons have won the battle of the boards in 10 of 12 games including over No. 4/8 Arizona. They topped NIU 61-43.
Team Stats
NIU
DePaul
FG%
.392
.416
3FG%
.257
.400
FT%
1.000
1.000
RB
43
61
TO
18
9
STL
6
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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