Clarke led all DePaul scorers with 15 points, including three crucial three-pointers in the 2nd quarter. In her first start of the season, Clarke felt right at home.

“It felt great, I missed Wintrust so much. It’s the best arena in the Big East,” Clarke said. “It just felt good to make shots and play with this team, that’s the reason why I came back.”

Along with Clarke scoring in double figures, Jorie Allen and Taylor Johnson-Matthews did as well, with 13 and 12 respectively. Clarke had to recover from a knee fracture so the beginning of this season required a lot of sitting, waiting and making sure she was comfortable enough to feel like herself again.

“I’m just here to do whatever the team needs to win. So if that’s making shots, then I’ll do it,” Clarke said. “If that’s locking down on defense, I’ll do it.”

“We say all our wins are great, and on a night that we didn’t necessarily play our very best basketball, we found a way to win, head coach Jill M. Pizzotti said postgame. “Find a way to defend the possession, find a way to get a rebound, find a way to win.”

DePaul’s defense forced Xavier to shoot 36% from the field tonight and outrebounded them by 13 (41-28). While DePaul turned the ball over 25 times, Xavier themselves had 21 – including four straight to close the game. The defensive intensity and effort was apparent for the Blue Demons tonight. Four players came away with multiple steals.

“It’s just what we practice, defense wins games, rebounds wins games,” guard Taylor-Johnson Matthews said. “That’s what we had to do to pull out that win.”

Xavier has clawed their way back into this game with a late-game comeback. They find themselves down two, 52-50.

Forward Meg Newman has since returned to the court, back in her mask, looking to stop the bleeding.

47.6 seconds remain in the fourth quarter. Xavier has possession. DePaul needs to get a stop here.

DePaul has a nine-point lead with 3:59 left to go in this one. Forward Meg Newman sustained an injury to her face leaving DePaul short-handed.

While on the bench, not injured, head coach Jill M. Pizzotti has gone with a four-guard lineup this second half.

She has since returned to the bench with her facemask — something she’s worn throughout the year so far.

DePaul heads into the final quarter still up seven, 42-35, making their final four field goals. DePaul shot 9-13 (69%) in the third quarter outscoring Xavier by eight. DePaul had a lead as large as 11 in the third and went on their largest run of the game (8-0).

Sumer Lee starts the third quarter in place of McCline adding some size to match Xavier. Jorie Allen however has two personal fouls and hasn’t been much of a factor so far shooting-wise, 1-3, but has gotten her teammates involved with five assists.

Clarke has been the engine of the offense this game being the only scorer in double-figures with 15 points.

Back-to-back layups by Allen and Clarke have them up seven, 29-22, with 6:12 to go in the third quarter.

Despite DePaul shooting 29% from the field, their leading scorer (Jorie Allen) having two points and committing 14 turnovers they find themselves only down one point, 22-21.

Neither team has found a rhythm on offense. The final stretch of game time included nine turnovers and zero field goals made.

A mini Kate Clarke three-point burst (3-5 from three) has given this team a pulse, down 22-21 with 4:30 left in the first half. Some credit must go to their defense for forcing Xavier into tough shots and turnovers.

DePaul continues their dominance on the glass outrebounding Xavier keeping DePaul in the game.

Eight turnovers plagued the Demon’s offense. The offense could only muster ten points – the lowest first-quarter total this season.

9-7 Xavier after the first media timeout.

DePaul is winning the rebounding battle (7-3), but four early turnovers have them searching for a rhythm.

DePaul:

• Taylor Johnson-Matthews, Guard
• Shakara McCline, Guard
• Kate Clarke, Guard
• Neg Newman, Forward
• Jorie Allen, Forward

Xavier:

• Irune Orio, Guard
• Tae’lor Purvis, Guard
• Meri Kanerva, Guard
• Loren Christie, Forward
• Petra Oborilova, Forward

DePaul will be debuting their red uniforms in honor of their late assistant coach, Maggie Dixon.

Dixon spent 2001-2005 as an assistant coach under Doug Bruno before taking over the head coaching role at Army West Point. Dixon led her team to a surprising Patriot League title and a birth in the NCAA tournament — their first in program history.

Dixon was rushed to the hospital during the Women’s Final Four where Bruno was beside her on her final days. Dixon passed away from an arrhythmic episode to her heart.

Fans attending are encouraged to wear red to honor Dixon and her legacy.