Allen’s 20-Point Performance Paces DePaul in 62-56 Setback Against Villanova

Wednesday, February 12

Chicago, Ill.

7 p.m.

DePaul University

12-15,7-7Big East

Villanova

14-11,8-5Big East

Villanova

DePaul

Allen’s 20-Point Performance Paces DePaul in 62-56 Setback Against Villanova

2/12/2025 9:45:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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CHICAGO – In a tightly-contested matchup, DePaul women's basketball fell to Villanova, 62-56 on Wednesday night at Wintrust Arena. A two-point game heading into the fourth quarter, the Blue Demons struggled to score in crunch-time and couldn't overcome a slow start.

Graduate student Jorie Allen paced the Blue Demons in scoring with 23 points on 50-percent shooting from the field to go with five rebounds. It was her 13th 20-point outing of the season while extending her double-figure scoring stretch to 27-straight games which is the fifth-longest active streak in Division I.

In 26 minutes off the bench, junior guard Kate Clarke contributed 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting for her third outing in double figures this season.

DePaul (12-15, 7-7 BIG EAST) outrebounded the Wildcats 41-34 and grabbed 10 or more offensive boards for the 22nd this season. Freshman guard Natiah Nelson grabbed career-bests with seven rebounds and three blocks in her second-straight start.

Villanova (14-11, 8-5) was led by sophomore guard Maddie Webber who had a career-high 30 points.

How It Happened
Villanova's Webber scored the first eight points for the visitors before DePaul responded with a 6-0 run to knot the game at 8 on a driving layup from Allen. The Blue Demons were held scoreless for a two-and-a-half-minute stretch in which the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run to jump in front 18-9. The Blue Demons trailed 22-15 after Allen knocked down a pair of free throws to close the quarter.

Sumer Lee opened the second quarter with a mid-range jumper to cut the Blue Demon deficit to six. DePaul forced the Wildcats into eight-consecutive empty possessions and put together a 9-0 run, taking a 24-22 lead halfway through the period. The Blue Demons claimed a four-point edge, their largest of the half, on a crafty finish through the lane from Meg Newman before the Wildcats finished the half on a 6-0 run to pull ahead 30-28 at the break.

Allen knotted the game at 30 early in the second half before Villanova moved out in front courtesy of a 7-0 run. Back-to-back successful offensive trips pulled the Blue Demons within three, 37-34, with 3:59 remaining. Kate Clarke converted an and-one opportunity at the line to even the game at 41. The two sides traded baskets before 'Nova netted a jumper to jump out in front, 45-43 at the end of the third.

An Allen back-door layup and a Clarke triple gave DePaul the lead, 48-45, forcing a Villanova timeout. Three unanswered field goals pushed the Wildcats ahead, 52-48. Taylor Johnson-Matthews finished at the rim, bringing the game within two with 5:34 left. Another string of three-straight Wildcat baskets extended their advantage to nine, a lead the visitors wouldn't relinquish.

Up Next
DePaul will make the short trip to Milwaukee to take on Marquette on Saturday, Feb. 15. Tipoff from the Al McGuire Center is set for 2 p.m. with coverage on FloCollege.

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