Box Score
DePaul Quotes | Providence Quotes
CHICAGO — The BIG EAST’s hottest team remained on a roll as defending tournament champion DePaul reached the conference semifinals with Sunday’s 85-60 victory over Providence at Wintrust Arena.
The second seed Blue Demons (24-7) won their ninth straight as Mart’e Grays scored a game-high 25 points, Ashton Millender had 14 and Lexi Held added 13.
Millender had four 3 pointers as DePaul shot 13-of-36 (36.1 percent) from beyond the arc.
Mary Baskerville paced Providence (17-15) with 16 points, Maddie Jolin had 11 and Kaela Webb added 10.
Next up for DePaul is a Monday’s semifinal date with either No. 3 Butler or No. 6 Creighton.
The Blue Demons used a run of 12 unanswered points to build a 20-9 lead by the end of the opening quarter. The margin grew to 15 — at 37-22 — as Grays collected 15 first half points.
Providence rebounded in the third quarter with a 10-2 run propelled by a pair of Webb 3 pointers that cut the deficit to 41-32 at the 6:19 mark. But Grays scored eight points the rest of the way as DePaul opened a 63-43 lead by quarter’s end.
In the fourth quarter the Blue Demon lead never slipped under 20.
DePaul beat Providence in two regular season meetings and has now beaten the Friars 14 consecutive times since 2013.
The Blue Demons had a first round bye while Providence advanced with a 70-62 opening round win over Xavier.
Grays landed on the BIG EAST’s First Team while Providence guard Jovana Nogic was Honorable Mention. Baskerville and Held were unanimous All-Freshman Team picks.
Tourney play continues with semifinals at 3 and 5:30 p.m. CDT on Monday. Tuesday’s championship is set for 7 p.m. and will be televised on Fox Sports 1.
Women’s college basketball continues at WIntrust Arena later this month when it hosts an NCAA Division I Regional.