Rebounding Disparity Fuels DePaul's 105-85 loss to Marquette at BIG EAST Quarterfinals

Saturday, March 5

Uncasville, Conn.

1:30 P.M. CT

DePaul University

22-10,14-6Big East

105

No. 5 Marquette

21-9,13-7Big East

Marquette

105

DePaul

Rebounding Disparity Fuels DePaul's 105-85 loss to Marquette at BIG EAST Quarterfinals

3/5/2022 5:25:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Blue Demons outrebounded 49-17 Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – What transpired on Saturday afternoon inside Mohegan Sun Arena was excruciating for loyalists in Blue Demon Nation.

Doug Bruno hit it right on the head in his opening comments to the postgame media.

"All you need to know about today's game are two numbers: 49-17," Bruno said.

The DePaul Hall of Fame coach was referring to the ugly disparity in rebounding numbers during the Blue Demons' 105-85 loss to Marquette in the BIG EAST Quarterfinals.

Golden Eagle coach Megan Duffy devised a game plan to contain the nation's leading rebounder Aneesah Morrow from being her dominant self.

After watching DePaul's 6-foot, 1-inch All-American candidate power her way to 34 rebounds in two conference matchups, Duffy decided to send a phalanx of Marquette players at the BIG EAST record holder for rebounds in a season and a game.

Unable to fight her way through three and sometimes four opposing players, Morrow was limited to a six rebounds. It was only the sixth time in 32 games she finished in a single digit.

Morrow still came through with game highs of 29 points and five steals. Her NCAA-leading streak of 23 consecutive double-doubles came to an end.

Sonya Morris scored 17 points while Deja Church filled out the stat sheet with 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Lexi Held finished with 13 points.

The Blue Demons could not cut into an 11-point halftime deficit and were down 73-62 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Golden Eagles went on a 6-2 spurt at the outset of the final period and led 79-64 when Bruno called timeout.

Two Church baskets and one each from Morris and Kierra Collier kept it a 15-point game until Marquette's 8-2 run sealed it at 93-72. The winning team wound up shooting 65.7 percent.

Down 54-43 at halftime with Marquette shooting nearly 65 percent, Bruno and his staff had to devise a strategy to cool off the longtime rival from Milwaukee.

After a cold first half, Morris came out firing at the outset of the third quarter. Along with a tough Church rebound and driving layup, DePaul closed to 56-50 prompting Marquette coach Megan Duffy to signal timeout.

Steals by Morrow and Held and a Held basket brought the Blue Demons within 59-54. Marquette rebuilt a 64-55 margin when Held and Collier cut it to 64-59 at the third quarter media timeout.

Another Morrow score made it 64-61 when Marquette closed out the third quarter with a 9-1 run in taking a 73-62 lead into the final 10 minutes.

It was a racehorse start with both teams knocking down shots left and right from the opening tip.

Honestly, the defensive effort was there, but the shooting was a bit too accurate on both ends. Church sparked the team in white with six quick points as her team led 16-15 into the first quarter media timeout.

DePaul connected on eight of its first 11 shots.

Morrow's foul shot provided a 17-15 lead when Marquette scored eight-straight to move in front 23-17. Church and Dee Bekelja scored in the waning moments of the first quarter as their team trailed 25-22 after the first 10 minutes.

Despite eight Morrow points including a pair of threes and a Church steal and breakaway layup, Marquette continued its offensive onslaught. An 11-4 burst put the Golden Eagles ahead 45-36 at the second quarter media timeout.

Morrow tried to keep her team close with a pair of baskets and Held hit one from deep, but there was no cooling off the Golden Eagles. They went into halftime leading 54-43 after shooting 24-of-37 over the first 20 minutes---a sizzling 64.9 percent.

Morrow had 19 points but was limited to only four rebounds as Marquette held a 21-12 advantage on the backboards. Church came through with nine big points and Held had seven.

Postgame Notes

Before the game, the BIG EAST paid tribute to Bruno for being selected into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame with a video presentation. In addition, Morrow, Morris, Held and Church were presented with their All-BIG EAST and Freshman of the Year awards.
All-American candidate Morrow has established the new all-time DePaul single-season rebounding record with 440. Diana Vines (1986-87) previously set the standard with 397.
The Blue Demons lead the country in scoring and have put up 2,235 points in their last 25 games---an average of 89.4 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 field goals, double-doubles, rebounds, rebounds per game and offensive rebounds per game and was third in points and fifth in steals. Her 23 consecutive double-doubles came to an end. She has 26 total on the season.
The 6-1 freshman has 353 points and 220 rebounds in her last 14 games---an average of 25.2 points and 15.7 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 also owns the BIG EAST freshman record for points in a game with 41.
Morris came into the game fifth in the nation in field goals and ninth in attempts while Held was sixth in minutes played and ninth in assists. Church was No. 10 in free throw percentage.
Morris in No. 9 in the all-time scoring list with 1,681 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. Lexi Held is tied with Mfon Udoka (1,569) at No. 17. Sally Anderson is No. 8 with 1,722 points.
Deja Church is now a 1,000-point Blue Demon scorer with 1,084 in three years. She transferred in after playing two seasons at Michigan.
Dee Bekelja has played in 141 games and is tied with Chanise Jenkins for second all-time in DePaul history. Ashton Millender holds the record with 144 games.
The Blue Demons are 4-7 against 2021 NCAA tournament teams---beating then No. 14/14 Kentucky, Northwestern, Marquette and Rutgers and falling to then-No. 23/17 Texas A&M, No. 4/8 Arizona, No. 20/17 Notre Dame, Marquette and No. 7/8 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 31 of the first 32 games of her collegiate career.
DePaul is 20-12 outrebounding opponents including Arizona featuring 6-5 Lauren Ware and 6-3 Ariyah Copeland. DePaul lost the battle of the boards Sunday 49-17.
The Blue Demons had their fewest rebounds of the season and tied a season-low with eight assists.