Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
DePaul
DePaul Runs Past Marquette, 86-53
3/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 2, 2003
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CHICAGO - DePaul played one of its best games of the season, hitting 51.6 percent from the field, to defeat Marquette, 86-53, in the final game of the regular season for both teams. Marquette finishes the year at 14-12 and 6-8 in league play. Marquette finished in a four way tie for seventh place. DePaul earned the third seed in the upcoming C-USA Tournament, finishing 21-8 and 10-4 in C-USA games.
The Blue Demons were able to pull away from Marquette early. Marquette only got as close as 7-5 with 17:14 left in the first half. DePaul enjoyed three runs in the period, scoring six, seven and finishing the half with eight unanswered points to lead 40-27 at halftime. Khara Smith led DePaul with 11 points at the half. MU's Rachel Klug and Kelly Schwerman each had eight at the break.
Dant paced DePaul in the second half with 12 more points, finishing with a game high 23. Khara Smith and Charlene Smith paced the Blue Demons in a 14-0 run early in the second half. The duo combined for 11 of the 14 points as DePaul extended its lead to 60-35 with 13:42 in the second half.
Marquette got no closer than 21 as DePaul responded with a 12-0 run to finish the game. Marquette hit just 30.8 percent in the second half. Klug and Kelly Schwerman each finished with 12 points and Katie O'Grady had 10 off the bench for MU.
DePaul's defense was top-notch as it forced 16 Marquette turnovers, creating 14 off steals.
Marquette earned the ninth seed in the C-USA Tournament and will play Memphis, the eighth seed, in the first round at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 6 at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tenn.
