No. 9 Kansas State Outlasts DePaul in Ball Dawgs Finale

Wednesday, November 27

Las Vegas, Nev.

1 p.m. CT

DePaul University

2-5,0-0Big East

No. 9 Kansas State

6-1,0-0Big 12

DePaul

Kansas St.

No. 9 Kansas State Outlasts DePaul in Ball Dawgs Finale

11/27/2024 4:32:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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Johnson-Matthews and Allen finish with 17 points apiece

Las Vegas, Nevada – Facing its third top-10 opponent in a four-game span, DePaul couldn't quite keep pace with ninth-ranked Kansas State in a 92-66 decision on the final day of the Ball Dawgs Classic at Lee's Family Forum.

Taylor Johnson-Matthews and Jorie Allen totaled 17 points apiece to lead the Blue Demons. Johnson-Matthews matched her career-high and finished in double figures for the fifth time in seven games this season while Allen reached double-digit scoring for the seventh-consecutive outing.

Sophomore forward Ellery Minch earned a career-high nine points in nine minutes of action on a trio of three-point field goals.

The Blue Demons grabbed 42 rebounds as a team, the most by a Kansas State opponent this season. Freshman guard Angelina Smith matched her career-high with seven rebounds while Meg Newman grabbed six of her own.

All-American center Ayoka Lee led Kansas State with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

How it Happened
The Wildcats jumped in front 8-2 before drives to the basket from Angelina Smith, Taylor Johnson-Matthews and Shakara McCline brought the Blue Demons within three, 11-8, at the media timeout. McCline's triple tied the game at 11 before Kansas State ended the quarter on a 11-0 run to lead 22-11 after the first.

Johnson-Matthews' first three of the game cut the deficit to 10, before K-State knocked down six of its first seven three-point attempts in the second quarter to extend its lead to 44-21 midway through the period. Minch provided a spark off the bench with a pair of triples from deep but K-State held a 53-32 advantage at halftime after Johnson-Matthews converted on her fifth field-goal of the half as time expired.

DePaul (2-5) outscored Kansas State in the third quarter on the shoulders of Allen's 4-for-6 shooting from the field in the period. Minch's third three of the game was the final field goal of the period with the Blue Demons trailing 73-53 with 10 minutes to play.

The Wildcats kept DePaul at bay in the fourth quarter with a 10-2 run to claim their largest lead of the game with 2:21 remaining and close out the victory.

Up Next
The Blue Demons will return home for the first time since Nov. 17 when SIUE visits Wintrust Arena on Sunday, Dec. 1. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT with the game airing live on Marquee Sports Network.

Ticket Information
Season Tickets for the 2024-25 women's basketball season at Wintrust Arena start at $95. Secure your seats today at www.DePaulBlueDemons.com/tickets and commit to DePaul Women's Basketball!

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