DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
2-2,0-0Big East
South Dakota
3-1,0-0Summit League
DePaul Drops Battle 4 Atlantis Opener
11/18/2023 9:39:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Anaya Peoples leads the way with 22 points
Paradise Island, Bahamas - DePaul's slow start stung in an 83-71 setback to South Dakota in Saturday's opening round of the 2023 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis. Despite three Blue Demons scoring in double figures, the Coyotes early run and efficient shooting from the field was too much to overcome.
Anaya Peoples led the scoring effort for DePaul with 22 points, her third outing of the season with 20 or more points, to go along with seven rebounds, three steals, three assists and a pair of blocks. Jorie Allen matched her season-high with 15 points and seven rebounds while graduate guard Katlyn Gilbert posted 14 points in addition to six rebounds and four steals.
DePaul (2-2) forced 21 Coyotes turnovers and netted 25 points off the miscues while also dominating second chance points, 18-4.
Grace Larkins led the South Dakota scoring effort with a game-high 23 points.
How it Happened
South Dakota (3-1) ran out a 9-3 start before the Blue Demons trimmed the deficit to three, 12-9, on a GIlbert layup but a 6-0 spurt from the Coyotes widened their lead to nine to force a DePaul timeout. The two sides picked up the pace in the final two minutes of the first, capped by an Allen hookshot to bring the Blue Demons within eight, 23-15, after 10 minutes of action.
DePaul cut the Coyotes lead to four on a Brynn Masikewich reverse layup with 2:12 remaining in the first half and that was the closest the Blue Demons would get, trailing 38-33 heading into the locker room.
The Coyotes couldn't miss in the third quarter, shooting a blistering 9-for-10 from the field and taking a 16-point edge into the final 10 minutes.
Much like the previous periods, South Dakota used an early 7-0 spurt to take a 23-point advantage two minutes into the fourth. An Allen three-point field goal with 1:50 left in the game would bring the Blue Demons within 11, but they would get no further as the Coyotes held on for the win.
