Game Book | Providence Quotes | DePaul Quotes

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – A 20-3 run midway through the second quarter and into the third frame made the difference in the second game of Friday's first round action at Mohegan Sun Arena. No. 7 seed Providence topped No. 10 seed DePaul, 69-55, to advance to Saturday's quarterfinal against No. 2 seed Villanova at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock/NBCSN.
 
Providence graduate guard Sabou Gueye led all scorers with 31 points, while sophomore guard Orlagh Gormley (13 points) and graduate forward Tenesia Brown (14p, 14r) joined her in double figures. Junior guard Kate Novik led DePaul with 13 points.
 
DePaul controlled the early action, taking a 30-23 lead off back-to-back Timm 3-pointers at the 6:31 and 6:15 mark. However, an 11-0 run, with nine points directly off the shooting hand of Gueye, pushed the Friars in front, 34-30, a lead they would not relinquish.
 
Leading 36-31 at the break, the Friars shot 16-of-33 (.485) from the field and 4-of-6 from 3-point range, while the Blue Demons were 13-of-30 (433) from inside the arc and 4-of-10 beyond. Gueye poured in 17 first half points on 8-of-14 shooting.
 
The Providence defense continued to apply the pressure in the second half, limiting DePaul to shoot 9-of-37 (.243) from the field over the final 20 minutes. The Providence lead stretched to as large as 22 points in the second half.
 
For the game, Providence dominated inside with a point in the paint advantage of 48-32. Overall, the Friars shot .485 (32-of-66) for the game.
 
Gueye's performance marked the first 30-point game by a Friar in a tournament since 2015 (Tori Rule, 30 points), as she shot 15-of-26 from the floor, while adding seven rebounds and three assists.