Blue Demons Drop BIG EAST Tournament Opener to Providence

Friday, March 6

Uncasville, Conn.

12:30 P.M. CT

DePaul University

8-24,5-15Big East

Providence

15-17,7-13Big East

DePaul

Providence

Kate Novik dribbles the ball down the court

Blue Demons Drop BIG EAST Tournament Opener to Providence

3/6/2026 2:50:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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UNCASVILLE, Conn. –DePaul saw a first-half lead slip away in a 69-55 loss to Providence Friday afternoon in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Blue Demons held a seven-point advantage in the second quarter before a 40-14 Providence spurt sent the Friars to Saturday's quarterfinals.

Junior guard Kate Novik had a team-high 13 points for DePaul, finishing in double figures for the 22nd time this season. Graduate forward Michelle Ojo added 10 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals in her final collegiate game. Sophomores Devin Hagemann and Natiah Nelson finished with nine points and four rebounds apiece.

DePaul (8-24, 5-15 BIG EAST) grabbed 18 offensive rebounds, its 17th outing this season with 15 or more offensive boards, and turned them into 14 second-chance points.

Providence (15-17, 7-13 BIG EAST) held a dominant 48-32 edge in the paint, powered by 14 points and 14 rebounds from Tenesia Brown. All-BIG EAST First Team selection Sabou Gueye had a game-high 31 points to lead three Providence players in double figures.

How It Happened
The Blue Demons hit five of their first eight attempts from the floor to take an 11-8 lead midway through the first quarter. The Friars were equally efficient to start, going 2-for-2 from three and holding a 16-15 edge with 2:32 remaining. Hagemann's second triple of the game pushed DePaul back in front before Providence converted a floater at the buzzer to knot the score at 18 at the end of the first.

Back-to-back triples from Ally Timm sparked an 8-0 run for the Blue Demons to take a 30-23 lead. Providence responded with an 11-0 run of its own to reclaim the lead, 34-30. DePaul was without a field goal for the final 6:15 of the half and trailed 36-31 at the break.

DePaul's struggles from the field continued in the third as a three-minute scoreless stretch allowed the Friars to take their largest lead of the game, 53-38, with two minutes left in the quarter. A free throw from Nelson broke the drought as Providence carried a 55-39 lead into the fourth.

DePaul forced 10 Providence turnovers in the fourth quarter and used a 7-0 run to trim the deficit to 14, but it was too much to overcome as Providence closed out the 69-55 victory.

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