Alayna West’s made driving layup cut Seton Hall’s lead to 10 points with about two and a half minutes to play, but a three-pointer by the Pirates on the other end may very well be the dagger for a DePaul team that struggled to be as opportunistic in the second half as they were in the first.

After scoring 20 or more points in each of the first two quarters, DePaul has failed to score more than 17 points in either of the final two frames. DePaul has been productive dow low, scoring 30 points in the paint to Seton Hall’s 24, but the Blue Demons’ 24 total fouls proved to be too much to overcome.

DePaul trails 86-74 with under a minute to play.

Down 12 points, the Blue Demons looked to have a shot to cut their deficit to single digits, but a pair of attempts from deep surrounding an offensive rebound ultimately fell short, leaving DePaul with a tough challenge to comeback with a little less than six minutes remaining.

Through the first 15 minutes in the second half, Seton Hall has outscored the home team 28-21, fueled in large part by a 10-0 run in the third quarter that may end up being the difference. Michelle Ojo and Kate Novik, the Blue Demons’ two leading scorers, are in trouble with four fouls apiece. Natiah Nelson has the same total as the Pirates have been awarded with 28 shots from the free throw line and counting.

After being down by double-digits for the majority of the end of the third quarter, an Ally Timm make from beyond the arc has the Blue Demons trailing Seton Hall 66-59 with 10 minutes to play. Michelle Ojo remains the team’s leading scorer with 15 points, five of which have come in the second half. Kate Novik closely trails her teammate with 13 points, including one make from deep on three attempts.

Natiah Nelson leads the way on the glass with five total rebounds to go along with her two assists and four total points.

While the defensive pressure from the Blue Demons remains constant and intense, they must find a way to avoid sending the Pirates to the line if they hope to pull of their second consecutive double-digit home comeback.

After DePaul squashed their five-point halftime deficit, Seton Hall answered with a 10-0 run over the last two minutes of game time, giving the Pirates a nine-point lead with just over four minutes remaining in the first half.

DePaul is up to ten team fouls in the second half, the same total they had through the first two quarters and a number that they will have to mitigate going forward to prevent Seton Hall’s already dominant performance from the free throw line from getting any more severe.

With all but six of the Blue Demons’ 51 total points coming from four players, the home team’s offense is struggling to consistently keep everybody involved.

DePaul was quick to erase their five-point halftime deficit, taking a 48-47 lead less than three minutes into the second half. The 6-0 run by the Blue Demons was capped off by a Natiah Nelson bucket near the basket, which was fueled by a pair of offensive rebounds by her squad. The Pirates cut the run with a three-pointer on the other end, but after a miss on Seton Hall’s ensuing possession, Devin Hagemann was able to corral a long rebound that ultimately made its way into Kate Novik’s hands. Novik’s made basket gave the Demons a 51-50 lead, which was quickly lost due to a three-pointer on the other end. Novik’s total is now up to 13 points, tied with Michelle Ojo for the team lead.

With over six minutes remaining in the third quarter, DePaul trails 53-51.

With just five seconds remaining in the second quarter, Shakara McCline’s buzzer-beating shot was just off target, leaving DePaul with a five-point deficit to work back from in the second half.

DePaul was able to hold onto their lead for 11 of the game’s first 20 minutes, thanks in large part to strong offensive performances from Devin Hagemann, Michelle Ojo, Kate Novik and Ally Timm, who have combined to score 38 of the team’s first 42 points. Ojo and Novik also lead their squad with three total rebounds each, with the latter player also leading the Blue Demons with three assists.

DePaul has held their own down low despite being down three in the team rebound margin, but their 20 points in the paint more than doubles Seton Hall’s eight. DePaul is still struggling to match the Pirate’s production from the free throw line, converting three of their six total attempts. Seton Hall has made all 12 of their shots from the stripe.

Coach Pizzotti and staff remain frustrated with the calls made in the game, most recently including a questionable out of bounds call that went Seton Hall’s way. Pizzotti accurately pointed out that, despite being awarded possession, every Pirate on the court began moving to the defensive end of the court before the referees ultimately awarded Seton Hall the ball out of bounds from the baseline with under a minute to play, resulting in a second-chance made three-pointer that more than doubled the visitor’s lead.

Coming out of their timeout, DePaul extended their lead thanks to a Devin Hagemann made three, her second of the night. With 10 total points, Hagemann is now tied for the team lead alongside forward Michelle Ojo. The Blue Demons have been efficient on offense inside and outside of the arc, exemplified by a 40% shooting average from deep and 18 points in the paint, the most recent of which came from Natiah Nelson, who was fouled on the shot. Despite missing the free throw attempt, DePaul has a 34-30 leead with less than four minutes to play until halftime.

Halfway through the second quarter, DePaul is holding onto a one-point lead, thanks in large part to unsung defensive energy. Devin Hagemann was able to fall back in transition to prevent a wide-open layup attempt, and due to her disruption, Seton Hall was unable to find a clean look at the basket for a shot that would have given them the lead.

Despite their size disadvantage, the Blue Demons have matched the Pirates’ 14 total rebounds, although the latter team has been able to get to the free throw line seven times to DePaul’s three. With 4:59 remaining in the half, DePaul has a 29-28 lead.

The second quarter started with a scoring barrage, including three consecutive made three-pointers, including one from Ally Timm. The back-and-forth from deep ended after Devin Hagemann’s made two-pointer resulted in a trip to the line. Despite missing the free throw attempt, a crashing Michelle Ojo was able to put up the offensive rebound, her second of the day, to extend her team-leading point total to eight. Hagemann follows closely behind with seven.

DePaul leads 27-26 with seven and a half minutes to play until the break.

Through one quarter, DePaul has been able to hold onto a tight advantage over Seton Hall and are currently up two points after 10 minutes.

The Blue Demons are led by Michelle Ojo’s six points and Kate Novik’s three assists, while seven different players have all recorded exactly one total rebound. DePaul has been shooting the ball well and currently hold a 50% average from the floor and a 40% average from deep as a squad.

Despite being at a height disadvantage down low, the Blue Demons have also been more productive in the paint, knocking in 14 points near the basket compared to Seton Hall’s six.

The second quarter is now underway.

After taking an 11-10 lead thanks to a transition bucket from Kate Novik, Michelle Ojo picked up her first foul of the game, sending Seton Hall’s Mariana Valenzuela to the line, where she converted both of her attempts. Head coach Jill M. Pizzotti and staff were visibly frustrated by the call and let the referee hear their opinion, arguing that Valenzuela instead hooked her arm around Ojo. This came shortly after Pizzotti was passionately campaigning for a traveling violation against the Pirates, which was ultimately unsuccessful.

On the ensuing defensive possession, Kate Novik was able to jump into the passing lane for her first steal of the game, which she took coast to coast for her second basket on two attempts.

DePaul leads 16-14 with two minutes remaining in the opening frame.

After allowing a second-chance basket out of the injury timeout, DePaul answered with a Michelle Ojo basket off of a pick-and-roll at the top of the key. Ojo is responsible for four of the Blue Demons’ seven points through the opening four minutes of the game. DePaul trails 10-7.

After the Blue Demons took control of the opening tip, the Pirates stopped DePaul on their opening possession, eventually turning a steal into an open look at the basket from mid-range for the game’s first points. Michelle Ojo’s made basket on the other end tied the game up at 2-2 before Devin Hagemann knocked down a three-point attempt, her first of the night, to give her team a 5-2 lead less than three minutes into the game.

The game is currently in timeout after Seton Hall guard Jada Eads came down hard on her left knee. She was attended to by both training staffs, and was able to exit the court after being carried off by her trainers.

With the game about to get underway, DePaul is set to start the game with the following lineup:

• Guard Gina Davorija (Fr.)
• Guard Devin Hagemann (So.)
• Guard Natiah Nelson (So.)
• Guard Kate Novik (Jr.)
• Forward Michelle Ojo (Gr.)

Senior forward Meg Newman is out of the starting lineup, and is not dressed for today’s contest.

Seton Hall’s starting lineup is as follows:

• Guard Jada Eads (So.)
• Guard Savannah Catalon (Jr.)
• Guard Mariana Valenzuela (Sr.)
• Guard Zahara Bishop (Fr.)
• Guard Jorda Codio (Sr.)