CHICAGO, Ill. – Winona State women's basketball opened their 2024-25 preseason with an exhibition game at DePaul University, an NCAA Division I school in the Big East Conference, falling 73-58.
The Blue Demons, participants in 25 NCAA Division I Tournaments are led by Hall of Fame coach, Doug Bruno. Winona State played DePaul closely throughout the whole game, staying within a five-point margin in each quarter.
How it Happened:
After trailing 6-0 due to back-to-back 3-pointers by DePaul, WSU was able to slowly climb back into the game aided by a pair of
Mattie Schimenz three-point jumpshots. A turnaround jumper in the paint by
Vivica Bretton brought the Warriors within one halfway through the first. A DPU three gave the Blue Demons a 21-17 lead after the first stanza.
Despite giving up three quick buckets in the second, Winona State battled back and went on a 9-0 run over the course of 3:31 to bring the 10-point deficit to just one. The Warriors struggled to stay in their groove on the offensive end until
Bria Stenstrom knocked down a long ball with less than 10 seconds to go in the half as DePaul led 40-31 at the break.
DePaul scored the first points of the second half, but Winona State answered back with a 6-0 run, including four straight points off turnovers. The Blue Demons controlled much of the third frame and at one point led by 16, but WSU closed the gap to a 58-45 deficit heading into the fourth.
Both teams traded runs early in the final quarter, but DPU eventually gained their largest lead of the game at 71-49 with 4:33 left. Winona State went on a 9-2 run to close out the game with freshmen Stenstrom and
Avery Moeller scoring the game's final four points.
Individual Leaders:
- Olivia Gamoke led Winona State with 14 points on 5-10 shooting, including 3-6 from beyond the arc.
- Hailey Markworth added 11 points on 5-9 shooting. Bretton was also in double figures, going 4-10 from the field for 10 points.
- Sadie Jarmolowicz led Winona State with seven rebounds, while Gamoke and Schimenz each contributed with three apiece.
- Stenstrom led the Warriors off the bench with seven points on an efficient 2-3 shooting and 2-2 at the charity stripe.
- Jorie Allen led DePaul with 25 points on 10-14 shooting.
Team Comparison:
- DePaul shot 46% (31-67) from the field while the Warriors shot 39% (20-51).
- Winona State led the Blue Demons from the three-point line, going 7-20 (35%) compared to DPU's 6-29 (23%).
- The Warriors forced 12 turnovers while committing 20 themselves.
- It was a fairly even game on the glass, with DePaul outrebounding Winona State 39-33 including a 13-9 edge on the offensive end.
Winona State will return to action on Sunday, November 3rd as they host Central College (Iowa) in an exhibition contest. Tip-off is at 2:00pm in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court.
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