Morrow's Record-Breaking 41 Points Powers DePaul Past Creighton 90-84

Sunday, February 27

Omaha, NE

11:00 A.M. CT

DePaul University

22-9,14-6Big East

Creighton

20-8,15-5Big East

DePaul

Creighton

Morrow's Record-Breaking 41 Points Powers DePaul Past Creighton 90-84

2/27/2022 1:29:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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Freshman All-American candidate shattered BIG EAST rookie scoring record of 37

OMAHA, Neb. – Before a stunned D.J. Sokol Arena crowd and a delighted FS1 national TV audience, All-American candidate Aneesah Morrow put on an incredible performance Sunday.

Morrow shattered the BIG EAST freshman scoring record with a career-high 41 points while adding 18 rebounds as the powerful 6-foot-1-inch forward put the team on her back and carried DePaul to the BIG EAST regular-season finish line with a 90-84 victory over Creighton. The previous BIG EAST rookie record was 37.

It was all Morrow, all the time.

Her 41 points ties Kim Williams (1997) and Lenae Williams (2001) for the second-most points in a game in DePaul women's basketball history. She was one point shy of Beth Hasenmiller's 42 points in 1991.

This was the former Simeon All-Stater's 23rd consecutive double-double and an NCAA-leading 26 on the season.

Lexi Held supported the virtuoso performance with 13 points, Sonya Morris added 12 and Darrione Rogers finished with 10. Rogers led a strong showing from behind the arc as DePaul was 10-of-20 from deep in improving to 22-9, 14-6 in the BIG EAST. Creighton dropped to 20-8, 15-5.
Morrow continued her amazing game scoring early in the fourth quarter in giving her team a 69-65 lead. Creighton countered with seven in a row to move in front 72-69 at the media timeout.

Three-pointers by Rogers, Held and Kierra Collier interspersed with Morrow scores kept the Blue Demons in front. A Rogers basket made it 84-76. When Creighton closed within five twice, Held and Morrow retaliated. Yet another Morrow basket and a pair of Morris free throws closed it out.

Coach Doug Bruno's team entered the third quarter ready to extend a 44-43 halftime edge. Morrow obliged, scoring her team's first five points including spinning bank shot for a 49-46 lead. When Creighton retaliated quickly, DePaul coach Doug Bruno called timeout with his team trailing 50-49.

Morris scored consecutive baskets and Held connected from distance for a 56-55 lead at the media timeout. Creighton coach Jim Flanery was gambling as his best player Emma Ronsiek was playing with three fouls in the middle of the third quarter.

Gamble failed. Ronsiek was called for her fourth with 2:02 left. A minute later, Bluejay point guard Tatum Rembao picked up her fourth.

Morrow continued to be a scoring machine with nine of her team's final 11 points in the quarter for a 67-65 lead heading into the fourth quarter. She had 33 points at that point.

Held's three-point play, a Morrow score inside and a Rogers three-pointer got the Blue Demons off to a good start. Church's tough driving layup made it 10-9 until Creighton scored five straight to lead 14-10 at the first quarter media timeout.

Morrow went on a personal 11-point tear to tie the game at 21-21. She was difficult to stop down low, and when Creighton tried to get physical, the Bluejays were whistled for fouls.

Dee Bekelja's three-pointer finished off the first quarter with the game tied 24-24. Morrow had 13 points and four rebounds in the first 10 minutes.

Morrow's basket and back-to-back threes from Morris and Rogers gave their team a 32-31 lead midway through the second quarter.

DePaul got a little separation when Church knocked down a three-pointer, Morrow scored twice and Morris buried a three to move in front 42-37. A 6-0 Bluejay burst put the home team on top by one. Church's basket provided a 44-43 halftime lead.

After the first 20 minutes, Morrow had 19 points and eight rebounds as the Blue Demons shot 40 percent from deep.

DePaul will have a week to rest up and prepare for Saturday's BIG EAST tournament quarterfinals.

Postgame Notes

All-American candidate Morrow has established the new all-time DePaul single-season rebounding record with 434. Diana Vines (1986-87) previously set the standard with 397.
The Blue Demons lead the country in scoring and have put up 2,150 points in their last 24 games---an average of 89.6 per game. They have reached the century mark nine times to set a new school season record.
The previous mark of six was set in 2014-15 (Brittany Hrynko, Jess January, Chanise Jenkins, Megan Rogowski & Co.) and matched by the 2016-17 team featuring January, Brooke Schulte, Jacqui Grant and Amarah Coleman.
Morrow came into the game leading the nation in double-doubles, rebounds, rebounds per game and offensive rebounds per game and was second in field goals, third in points and sixth in steals. She now has 23 consecutive double-doubles and 26 on the season. Only three other players in NCAA women's basketball history have recorded 20 or more in a row.
The 6-1 freshman has 324 points and 214 rebounds in her last 13 games---an average of 24.9 points and 16.5 rebounds.
Morrow holds the all-time BIG EAST record (conference games only) for rebounds in a season with 287 and rebounds in a game with 27 (Jan. 30 at Seton Hall). She now also owns the BIG EAST freshman record for points in a game with 41.
DePaul has clinched a bye in the first round of the BIG EAST tournament.
Morris came into the game fifth in the nation in field goals and ninth in attempts while Held was ninth in assists and Church No. 10 in free throw percentage.
Morris in No. 9 in the all-time scoring list with 1,644 points. Jenni Dant is No. 10 at 1,633. JoAnn Feiereisel is No. 11 at 1,630. Chante Stonewall (1,622) is No. 12. Chanise Jenkins is No. 13 with 1,605. Beth Hasenmiller (1,600) is No. 14, Debra Robinson is No. 15 with 1,592 points and Keisha Hampton (1,574) is No. 16. Mfon Udoka (1,569) is No. 17, Held (1,556) is No. 18. Sally Anderson is No. 8 with 1,722 points.
Deja Church is now a 1,000-point Blue Demon scorer with 1,069 in three years. She transferred in after playing two seasons at Michigan.
Dee Bekelja has played in 140 games for third all-time in DePaul history. Ashton Millender holds the record with 144 games and Chanise Jenkins is second with 141.
The Blue Demons are 3-6 against nine 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, Marquette and No.8/8 UConn twice.
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 951 points.
Morrow has scored in double figures 30 of the first 31 games of her collegiate career.
DePaul is 20-11 outrebounding opponents including Arizona featuring 6-5 Lauren Ware and 6-3 Ariyah Copeland. DePaul won the battle of the boards Sunday 37-36.