Balanced Offense Powers DePaul Past Southern

Tuesday, December 17

Chicago, Ill.

7 p.m.

DePaul University

5-8,0-0Big East

Southern

2-10,0-0SWAC

Southern U.

DePaul

12/17/2024 9:53:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)Photo Gallery

Allen finishes with a game-high 19 points; Newman, Johnson-Matthews add 17 apiece

CHICAGO – DePaul shot a season-high 52-percent from the field and had three players finish with 17 or more points en route to a 76-64 victory over Southern University on Tuesday evening.

The Blue Demons led by as many as 27 points and held off a late comeback attempt by the Jaguars to improve to 5-8 on the season and wrap up non-conference play on a high note.

Jorie Allen led all scorers with 23 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field and an 11-for-13 outing from the free-throw line. Allen finished in double figures for the 13th-straight game while adding nine rebounds and five assists.

Junior guard Taylor Johnson-Matthews knocked down a career-best five three-point field goals in her most efficient outing of the season shooting 6-for-9 from the field for a total of 17 points.

Finishing in double figures for the sixth time this season, Meg Newman notched a career-high 17 points to go with seven rebounds. Haley Walker added eight rebounds off the bench, her fifth game in 2024 with six or more rebounds.

As a team, the Blue Demons dished out 20 assists on 27 made field goals. It was the team's third 20-assist performance this season.

Aleighyah Fontenot led Southern with 17 points.

How It Happened
The Blue Demons offense hit on seven-of-nine field goals amidst a 16-5 scoring run in the first quarter. Newman led DePaul early with eight points shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field. Making the first start of her career, Grace Carstensen sank a three-pointer to stretch the lead to double-digits. Dominating in all facets, DePaul outrebounded the Jaguars 13-4 through the first 10 minutes, while also holding Southern to 1 of 10 shooting to close the period, 19-8.

DePaul continued its pressure, opening the second quarter with a 12-4 scoring run. Walker laced a corner three, doubling up the Jaguars, 36-18. Walker secured five rebounds in the frame, contributing to DePaul holding a +10 advantage over Southern on the glass. Six different Blue Demons recorded points in the second period, highlighted by the team's efficient 9-for-14 shooting and 43-24 lead heading into the break.

Baskets by Allen, Johnson-Matthews, and Newman gave DePaul an 8-0 scoring advantage to begin the third quarter. Johnson-Matthews' fourth three-pointer of the game ballooned the Blue Demon lead back to 23, 56-33. A flurry of Southern fouls put DePaul in the bonus, granting the Blue Demons' six third-quarter points from the charity stripe, including five from Allen. The Blue Demons held a 61-46 edge after 30 minutes.

To start the fourth period, the teams traded four-consecutive baskets before a transition finish by Newman and an and-one by Allen in the paint pushed DePaul back out front by 16. An Allen driving layup in the final moments halted the Jaguars' 6-0 run late, making the final tally 76-64 in favor of the Blue Demons.

Up Next
The Blue Demons open BIG EAST Conference play on Saturday, Dec. 21 when Butler visits Chicago. Tipoff from Wintrust Arena is set for 2 p.m. Live coverage can be found on FloHoops.

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