University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
9-0,1-0AAC
DePaul
9-2,0-0Big East
No 2. UConn Powers To Early Lead, Hangs On vs No. 16 DePaul
12/16/2019 10:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CHICAGO (AP) — Megan Walker had 22 points and 13 rebounds, Crystal Dangerfield also scored 22 and No. 2 UConn held off No. 16 DePaul 84-74 on Monday night.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 19 points for the Huskies (9-0), who dominated in the first half and won their 17th straight over the Blue Demons (10-2), whose seven-game winning streak ended. Connecticut led 55-29 at the half before DePaul began a furious comeback.
Chante Stonewall led DePaul with 21 points. Sonya Morris had 20 points, Dee Bekelja has 12 and Lexi Held added 11 for the Blue Demons, whose other loss was to No. 4 Oregon State on Nov. 14.
Held's 3-pointer with 7:17 left trimmed UConn's lead to 70-66, but the Huskies regrouped from there.
DePaul started the third quarter with an 8-0 spurt and narrowed UConn's lead to 69-56 as the period ended on Held's 3-pointer from the left side. The Blue Demons started the fourth with a 10-1 run.
UConn was in charge throughout the first half.
DePaul hit only one of its first nine shots, and that was all bigger, quicker UConn needed to get on an early roll.
Through the first 20 minutes, Connecticut outshot DePaul 61.1% to 34.3% and outrebounded the Blue Demons 29-9.
Dangerfield led with 17 points at the half on 5-for-7 shooting and hit 4 of 5 3-pointers. Walker had 15 points at the half on 7-for-12 shooting, mostly from close range.
BIG PICTURE
UConn: The Huskies haven't lost to DePaul since Dec. 28, 1983, but the rivalry between these teams figures to deepen next season with UConn rejoins DePaul in the Big East. The Blue Demons have won the Big East tournament the last two seasons in and four of the past six.
DePaul: The Blue Demons were humbled in their biggest nonconference match-up after scoring 105 points in each of their previous two games. DePaul came off a 105-76 win over Alabama State on Saturday and a 105-94 win at Notre Dame last Wednesday. DePaul starts its conference schedule on Dec. 29 versus Marquette.
SHOELESS MEGAN
Walker lost her right shoe pulling down a defensive rebound with a few second left in in the first quarter. She joined the play down the court, then put her sneaker back on after the quarter ended.
UP NEXT
UConn: Plays Oklahoma on Sunday at the Hall of Fame Showcase in Uncasville, Connecticut.
DePaul: At crosstown rival Loyola-Chicago on Friday.
