UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- All that was at stake Monday night was continuing DePaul's best season in school history and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen. Don't think that wasn't on the mind of junior Keisha Hampton standing 15 feet from the basket with the score tied.
"I thought I can't let our season end like this," she said. "We worked too hard for this."
Hampton sank two free throws after she was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 4.9 seconds left in regulation. DePaul then trapped Penn State point guard Alex Bentley in the backcourt, spoiling a final heave and giving the Blue Demons a 75-73 win to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2006 and play the No. 2 seed Duke Blue Devils on Sunday in Philadelphia.
Hampton and Felicia Chester brought DePaul back from a 14-point second-half deficit, combining for 42 points.
MORE: How local area players performed in the women's tournament
"Feels great to sit here, but I didn't make a basket, I didn't guard Maggie Lucas, I didn't make the baskets Keisha Hampton made and I didn't make the tough buckets inside that Felicia Chester made," DePaul coach Doug Bruno said. "Whenever a game like this is won, it's totally a credit to your players."
DePaul trailed at halftime, 38-29, after shooting 10-for-35 from the field (28.6 percent), including 3-for-19 from 3-point distance (15.8 percent).
Out of the intermission, DePaul forced a faster tempo with its backcourt pressure, getting out into transition and closing within seven at the 16:49 mark. It got within one after Chester made one of two foul shots following an intentional foul and a Hampton jumper on the ensuing possession with 6:41 left.
"In the first half, I was too rushed. I wasn't relaxed. I didn't take my time with my shots," said Hampton, who scored 19 second-half points. "Second half, it was a whole new half. I had to leave the first half go."
Penn State, averaging 77 points per game, was more than capable of running with the Blue Demons, as Bentley scored 17 second-half points.
Lucas, the talented freshman sharpshooter, was held to just 1-for-11 shooting (0-for-6 from 3) but knocked down a fading jumper from the right side as the shot clock expired to give Penn State a 73-71 lead with 54.9 seconds, setting the stage for Hampton's heroics.
"I hate to lose the game, but geez, what a great game, what a great game," Penn State coach Coquese Washington said. "You gotta feel great about being a part of a basketball game that's exciting, with so much on the line."
Source: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/03/women-depaul-rallies-for-75-73-win-over-penn-st.html
Alabama Crimson Tide Clemson Tigers Florida Gators Northwestern Wildcats Wichita State University Nebraska Cornhuskers
No comments:
Post a Comment