No. 20 DePaul Wins with a Healthy Hampton

CHICAGO- Three of the seven games played between DePaul and St. John’s have been decided by three or less points. The Blue Demons’ Keisha Hampton made sure Wednesday’s game was not that close.

Keisha Hampton scored 17 of her game-high 21 points in the second half as No. 20/21 DePaul (7-1, 1-0 Big East) defeated the Red Storm 69-52 at McGrath-Phillips Arena in front of a sell-out Field Trip Day crowd.

Hampton, who did not practice last week and had been listed day-to-day due to an injury, committed eight turnovers, was 0-5 from the field and scored just four points during her twenty minutes of first half play. Her play in the second half left no doubt that she is now healthy.

“Once we got [Keisha] going, you saw why she is truly an All-American the way she took over the game in the second half,” said DePaul coach Doug Bruno.

Her three second half three-pointers helped give DePaul a 50-35 lead with 12:38 left to play.

“In the first half I think I was just anxious and not taking my time with things,” said Hampton. “In the second half I came out and looked to be more aggressive.”

The Red Storm then went on a 9-0 run to close to 50-44 with 9:16 left, but a three-pointer by Deanna Ortiz (nine points) from the right wing pushed the momentum back to DePaul.

“[Deanna] brings great stability to our team offensively," said Bruno. "She is a very smart player and really knows what we are doing and she does a lot more than what people realize. The shots she hit were huge.”

Another three by Hampton and a lay up by Jasmine Penny (13 points, five rebounds in a starting role) pushed the Blue Demon lead out to 58-46 with 6:33 left.

Anna Martin scored nine of her 13 points in the first half as DePaul led 35-24 at the break.

Katherine Harry had her second consecutive game of double figure rebounding with 10.

St. John’s (5-4, 0-1 Big East) was led by Eugeneia McPherson’s 18 points. Amber Thompson notched the game’s only double double with 10 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. The Red Storm shot 27 percent from the field for the game.

DePaul stays home to play SIU-Edwardsville this Friday at 7:00 CST.

Notes:

- Martin’s 13 points gives her 900 points at DePaul.

- Martin was named to the Big East Honor Roll this week.

- DePaul now leads the series 6-2.