Morris, Morrow, Held Combine for Second-Half Save

Friday, January 14

Chicago, Ill.

5:30 P.M. CT

DePaul University

13-4,5-1Big East

Villanova

8-6,2-3Big East

Villanova

DePaul

Morris, Morrow, Held Combine for Second-Half Save

1/14/2022 8:39:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Blue Demon trio sparks 75-63 BIG EAST comeback win over Villanova on Friday

CHICAGO – Thank goodness for the second half.

Overcoming a second-straight sluggish opening act, DePaul returned to form in the final two quarters in a 75-63 BIG EAST victory over Villanova on Friday night at Wintrust Arena.

The same beloved team that frustrated Blue Demon Nation shooting just 27.8 percent and going 0-for-6 from three-point range in the first half did an abrupt about-face in the final 20 minutes.

Led by Sonya Morris' team-high 25 points (11-of-19 from the field), Aneesah Morrow's ninth consecutive double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds) and Lexi Held's marksmanship (14 points on 6-of-8 shooting), DePaul shot 66.7 percent in the third quarter and 61.5 percent in the fourth.

That improved coach Doug Bruno's team to 13-4 on the season and 5-1 in the BIG EAST, offsetting a strong performance from Villanova star Maddy Siegrist who finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds and four steals.

His team is fighting its way through the January doldrums that have typically bogged down any rhythm or momentum. Traditionally, the Blue Demons emerge from the New Year lull and start building towards a peak in March.

What ignited the second-half save was Morris, Morrow and Held combining to shoot 62.5 percent.

Kierra Collier opened the fourth quarter with a corner three and a 56-47 lead, but a six-point spurt brought Villanova within 56-53 and prompted Bruno to call timeout.

That's when the Blue Demons launched the difference-making 9-0 run with four Morrow points, a clutch Held three and a Dee Bekelja jumper for a 65-53 lead that Villanova (8-6, 2-3) never threatened.

Held connected from deep again and Church followed with a basket for a 72-58 advantage.

It looked like it would take another second-half surge to fire up "DePaulball" as the Blue Demons trailed 33-30 at the break.

Bruno's team scored 60 points in the second half and overtime at Marquette after scoring just 25 in the first half.

The first hint of DePaulball surfaced early in the third quarter. Better ball movement led to shot-making as Morris, Held, Church and Morrow combined for an 8-0 run and a 38-35 Blue Demon lead. Villanova called timeout to regroup.

Morris connected on two-straight, Morrow scored on a nifty post spin move while Held drove the lane and finished with a nice scoop layup for a 46-39 advantage at the second media timeout.

Although the team in the red home jerseys had an uncharacteristic four assists at this point, the Blue Demons were finding other ways to score.

Another Morris score followed by a Dee Bekelja three-pointer---DePaul's first of the game---made it 51-41. Morris knocked down a pair of free throws, but a pair of Wildcat threes made it 53-47 heading into the fourth quarter.

Siegrist did most of the early damage for Villanova with seven points by the late media timeout (2:42 on the clock). Morris and Morrow combined for 10 points and a 12-11 DePaul lead.

Morrow had back-to-back baskets, a pair of steals and a thunderous blocked shot to get the offense going. One of those scores came on a post-up of Siegrist.

Held's layup just before the buzz supplied the home team with an 18-15 lead after one quarter.

Siegrist scored nine points from the outset of the second quarter to give Villanova a 26-24 lead at the media timeout. Morris and Rogers countered for DePaul with Morrow resting on the bench.

Siegrist was finding openings in the Blue Demon defense and already had 18 points by the middle of the second quarter on 6-of-8 shooting.

Baskets by Morris and Held kept it a two-point game until the Wildcats moved in front 33-28. A pair of Church free throws brought her team within 33-30 at halftime.

DePaul's offensive struggles from Wednesday night's loss at Marquette were cropping up again. The normally pass-happy Blue Demons had just two assists in the first half and went 0-for-6 from three-point range.

Siegrist had 20 points and eight rebounds in the first 20 minutes.

The finale of a grueling three-games-in-five-days stretch comes at 2 p.m. Sunday against Georgetown at Wintrust Arena that will be shown on the BIG EAST Digital Network.

It is the second women's game at Wintrust Arena that all guests age five and older will need to provide physical or digital proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon entry to the arena for the rest of the season in accordance with the City of Chicago's new mitigation requirements that went into effect on Jan. 3, 2022.

Postgame Notes

The Blue Demons came in leading the country in scoring and second in assists, putting up 867 points in their last nine games---an average of 96.3 per game. They have reached the century mark five times in the last 10 games.
DePaul has scored 100 or more a total of six times this season. That ties the program record set in 2014-15 (Brittany Hrynko, Jess January, Chanise Jenkins, Megan Rogowski & Co.) and 2016-17 (January, Brooke Schulte, Jacqui Grant, Amarah Coleman).
Morrow came into the game leading the nation in rebounds and double-doubles and is second in offensive rebounds per game and third in field goals. She has nine consecutive double-doubles and 11 in her last 12 games.
The 6-1 freshman has 241 points and 160 rebounds in her last 12 games---an average of 20.1 points and 13.3 rebounds.
Morris came into the game fifth in the nation in field goals and Held was fifth in assists.
Morris passed up Ashton Millender, Jasmine Penny and Latasha Byears on the all-time scoring list and is now No. 20 with 1,427 points. Held (1,406 points) is No. 23 with Jasmine Penny (1,417) No. 22 at 1,417 and Latasha Byears No. 21 at 1,423.
Dee Bekelja played in her 136th game, surpassing Kelly Campbell and Felicia Chester while tying Katherine Harry for sixth all-time.
The Blue Demons are 3-4 against seven NCAA tournament teams---beating then No. 14/14 Kentucky, Northwestern and Rutgers and falling to then-No. 23/17 Texas A&M, No. 4/8 Arizona, No. 20/17 Notre Dame and Marquette.
They are 3-1 against Wildcat teams---beating Kentucky, Northwestern and Villanova and falling to Arizona.
Held is the BIG EAST's active career scoring leader in conference games with 799 points.
Morrow has scored in double figures 16 of the first 17 games of her collegiate career.
The Blue Demons have won the battle of the boards in 14 of 17 games including over Arizona featuring 6-5 Lauren Ware and 6-3 Ariyah Copeland. DePaul outrebounded Villanova 37-33 on Friday night.