Nov. 18, 2013
Box Score
Post-Game Audio
CHICAGO - Chloe Nelson'scareer-high 18 points weren't enough as the Illinois State (0-2) women's basketball team fell to No. 25 DePaul (3-0), 80-67, Monday at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Nelson scored a career-high six field goals on nine attempts and sank five free throws in a career-high 38 minutes played.
Octavia Crump also had a career night, as she recorded the first double-double of her career with 10 points and 12 rebounds, both setting career-highs. Mackenzie Freeman was the third Redbird to score in double figures, scoring 10 points, including seven in the first half. Brianna Puni tied a career-high 12 rebounds, pulling down six offensive boards, while Stekara Hallrecorded four steals.
DePaul had a slight advantage on the boards, pulling down 38 just one more than ISU's 37 rebounds. The Blue Demons shot 45 percent from the field compared to the Redbirds' 43 percent. Illinois State had 28 turnovers, as DePaul used that to its advantage, netting 31 points off of turnovers.
In the opening half, ISU didn't score a field goal until the 15:14 mark, when Maddie Oliver made a move in the lane for a layup, 10-4. An open three by Katy Wingeput the Redbirds down by eight, but a quick layup in transition by the Blue Demons gave DePaul a 10-point lead, 19-9 with 12:33 to play in the first half. DePaul had three 5-0 runs in the first eight minutes of the game, but a 7-1 run by Illinois State got ISU back within five, 22-17, with just over 10 minutes to play in the opening half. Freeman had four-straight points during the run.
After ISU's run, DePaul responded with an 8-0 run of its own lasting 1:51, forcing an Illinois State timeout with just over eight minutes to play in the first half. A 12-4 run by the Redbirds over the final four minutes of the first half got Illinois State within two points, 39-37. Nelson netted eight points during the run, but a last second layup gave DePaul a 41-37 advantage heading into the locker room.
At the half, Nelson scored 10 points, while Freeman added seven for the Redbirds. Puni pulled down eight boards, while Crump grabbed seven. The duo collected 15 of ISU's 20 first half boards. ISU shot 50 percent from the field, including 57 percent from beyond the arc. DePaul shot 44 percent and had 13 rebounds.
The Blue Demons opened the second half with a 6-0 run that lasted nearly two minutes, forcing a Redbird timeout. After the timeout, DePaul kept the run alive with a layup, 49-37, three minutes into the second half. Then, DePaul scored eight-straight points, while ISU was held scoreless for over four minutes. Illinois State regained momentum when Foley scored a layup and drew the foul to complete the three-point play, 59-45. A 4-0 run by the Redbirds cut the Blue Demons' lead to 12 points, 61-49, with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game.
ISU continued to chip away at its deficit with a 6-0 run, 63-55, with just under seven minutes left on the clock. Nelson netted five-straight points followed by a three-point play by Crump to get the Redbirds within nine, 74-65, with 2:31 to play. Despite the late effort, DePaul ended the game with a 6-2 run for the 80-67 win.
The Redbirds will host Colorado State Saturday at 4:05 p.m., at Redbird Arena for their first home game of the season.
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