#17 DePaul Drops Illinois-Chicago

CHICAGO – An 11-0 run to start the game is all DePaul needed in a 74-35 win over visiting Illinois-Chicago on Thursday at McGrath Arena. Natasha Williams tallied her second double-double of the season to lead three players in double-figures for the Blue Demons.

Two Allie Quigley free throws opened the game before Caprice Smith hit a jumper and Williams scored on a layup. A Deirdre Naughton three-pointer was followed by another bucket by Williams forcing UIC to take a time out three minutes into the game and trailing by an 11-0 margin.

Briana Hinkle ended the run with the first basket for UIC (3-3) at 15:54, but the next five minutes was all DePaul as the Blue Demons lead increased to 27-4 on a Quigley jumper at the 11-minute mark.

DePaul (5-0) held a lead between 17 and 25 points over the remainder of the first half as Naughton, Quigley and Williams combined for 31 of the 41 first-half points.

A steal by Naughton and ensuing layup by Missy Mitidiero gave the Blue Demons their first 30-point lead at 51-21 with 12:53 left before Erin Cattell's jumper at 10:47 made the score, 55-24, in favor of the home team.

UIC would get no closer than 25 points over the final 8:43 and a Cattell jumper and the final basket by Taylor Pikes gave the Blue Demons their largest lead of the game at 39 points.

Williams finished the night with 16 points, 12 rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes while Naughton dropped in 16 points with six steals and five assists. Quigley nearly pulled off her first double-double of the season with 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists while Caprice Smith and Mitidiero added seven points each.

UIC was led by Hinkle with nine points and six rebounds. The 35 total points for the Flames marked the lowest total for a DePaul opponent since a 68-35 win over UIC on Jan. 13, 1992 at Alumni Hall.

The Blue Demons continue the four-game homestand on Sunday afternoon against Missouri State. Tipoff at McGrath Arena is set for 2 p.m. Dating back to last season, DePaul has won eight straight home games.

Game Notes: DePaul has won 26 straight, 40 of the last 41, and 47 of the last 49 games against opponents from Illinois... the Blue Demons also continued streaks of: 23 straight home wins over non-conference opponents, 32 consecutive victories against UIC and 43 in-a-row against Horizon League programs... the 5-0 start is the eighth in school history and the third in the last four seasons... Caprice Smith moved into 20th all-time with 1,016 points... Allie Quigley moved into seventh all-time with 327 assists... she is also now tied for 11th all-time with 1,552 career points... the win was No. 399 for Doug Bruno at DePaul... the Blue Demons now lead the series, 34-5, with 32 consecutive wins over the Flames

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