Bench Sparks No. 21 DePaul Over SIU

CHICAGO- With four players out with injuries, including Keisha Hampton for the third straight game, DePaul head coach Doug Bruno had to look all the way down his bench for contributors. He saw plenty of help in that respect.

No. 21 DePaul got 29 points from its bench and defeated Southern Illinois University 93-67 Thursday night at McGrath-Phillips Arena, extending its home win streak to 26 games.

DePaul (12-2, 1-0 Big East) continued its strong defensive showing from its last home game against Arizona State, jumping out to a 21-2 lead in the game’s first six minutes.

Bruno was able to substitute freely at that point, and his bench did not disappoint, as all Blue Demons who suited up, played and scored.

Kelsey Reynolds led the bench with 12 points including six of DePaul’s last seven points in the game.

“I thought Kelsey gave us a great lift off the bench,” said Bruno. “Megan Rogowski (nine points on 3-6 from behind the arc) also gave us a good lift in the first half. Maureen Mulchrone (five points, four rebounds, three assists and one block) always does a lot of little stuff. She gets a loose ball here, gets a deflection there, forces a steal and you leave her alone and she knocks down a three. I think it is important that this bench has stepped up. I have been forced to totally change how we play this year [due to injuries].”

Anna Martin sustained a blow to the left eye mid-way through the first half, and while her eye was swollen, it did little to hamper her efforts as she scored 14 of her team-high 21 points in the second half. Martin is now 11 points shy of the 1,000 career mark.

Jasmine Penny scored 10 of her 15 points in the first half as the Blue Demons led 51-18 at the break, a new season-low for first half points scored by DePaul opponents. The Blue Demons forced 21 turnovers and had nine steals in that stanza.

Brittany Hrynko added 14 points, four assists and four steals for DePaul. Katherine Harry recorded the game’s only double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Blue Demons.

DePaul’s biggest lead was 36 points with just under eighteen minutes to play.

SIU (3-7) was led by Teri Oliver’s game-high 25 points.

DePaul next plays at home versus Northern Illinois on December 31 at 2:00 CST.

Notes:

- A win versus Northern Illinois would be Bruno’s 500th collegiate win.

- SIU last beat DePaul in 1983. The Blue Demons lead the series 9-3.