DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
7-22,4-14Big East
Xavier
11-16,4-14Big East
Blue Demons Use Balanced Effort to Beat Xavier 76-67
2/22/2026 5:04:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Novik surpasses 1,000 career points behind 16-point outing
CHICAGO – DePaul women's basketball erased a double-digit first-half deficit behind a relentless defensive stretch and balanced scoring effort to defeat Xavier Musketeers women's basketball 76-67 Sunday afternoon at Wintrust Arena. The Blue Demons held Xavier to just three field goals over a 15-minute span and had seven players score eight or more points to secure the come from behind victory.
Junior guard Kate Novik led the way with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals, surpassing 1,000 career points in the process while recording her 20th double-figure outing of the season. Michelle Ojo added 15 points on 62-percent shooting with seven rebounds, and Devin Hagemann chipped in 10 points and three steals.
Natiah Nelson, Ally Timm, Alayna West and Aizhanique Mayo each contributed eight points, with Nelson adding eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals, and West tallying five rebounds and five assists.
DePaul (7-22, 4-14 BIG EAST) capitalized on 15 Xavier turnovers for 26 points and controlled the glass for 16 second-chance points behind 13 offensive rebounds.
MacKenzie Givens paced the Musketeers with a game-high 22 points on 75-percent shooting.
How It Happened
Xavier (11-16, 4-14 BIG EAST) opened strong, hitting five of its first six shots to build a 12-10 lead at the first media timeout. After West converted a putback and free throw to give DePaul its first advantage, the Musketeers responded with a 10-0 run to take a 24-15 lead. Novik halted the surge with a three-point play to trim the deficit to 26-18 after one quarter.
The Musketeers pushed their lead to 11 in the second before DePaul answered with a 9-0 run to pull within two. Mayo's three-pointer put the Blue Demons in front 39-38 at halftime, capping a stretch that saw Xavier go without a field goal over the final 5:36 of the half.
DePaul's defense continued to dictate the game in the third quarter. Novik's three-point play extended the advantage to 48-41 midway through the frame, and Xavier managed just one field goal in its final 10 attempts of the period as the Blue Demons carried a 56-47 lead into the fourth.
Xavier trimmed the margin to four early in the final quarter, but back-to-back three-pointers from Mayo and West fueled a decisive run that pushed the lead to 11. DePaul converted all six of its free throws down the stretch to seal the 76-67 victory.
Up Next
DePaul returns to Wintrust Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 25 to host Butler Bulldogs women's basketball at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The Blue Demons will honor seniors Meg Newman, Justis Odom and Michelle Ojo in a pregame ceremony.
Single-game tickets for DePaul's final home contest is available here.
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For all the latest information on DePaul Women's Basketball, please visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
