ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — The Marquette Golden Eagles delivered a commanding road performance Thursday night, overwhelming the DePaul Blue Demons 85-54 in a Big East Conference women’s basketball matchup at Allstate Arena.

Marquette set the tone immediately with a stifling defensive effort, building a 23-9 lead after the first quarter and never looking back. The Golden Eagles improved to 5-3 overall on the season, while DePaul dropped to 2-7.

Skylar Forbes, a 6-foot-3 forward from Markham, Canada, led all scorers with 19 points in just 22 minutes of action, spearheading a balanced Marquette attack. Her efficiency was emblematic of the night, as she shot 6-of-9 from the field and added two assists and a block.

The Golden Eagles’ defensive pressure was relentless from the opening tip. They forced 17 DePaul turnovers, converting them into easy transition opportunities, and held the Blue Demons to just nine points in the decisive first period. Marquette opened the game on a 13-0 run before DePaul’s Meg Newman connected on a turnaround jumper at the 6:44 mark for the Blue Demons’ first points.

“We came out with great energy and focus,“ said a Marquette spokesperson after the game. “Defensively, we were connected and that fueled our offense.“

DePaul, struggling to find any offensive rhythm, shot a frigid 2-for-12 from three-point range and just 40% from the field overall. Alayna West of Madison, Wisconsin, provided a bright spot for the Blue Demons, finishing with a team-high 17 points. Kate Novik, from Grodno, Belarus, added 11 points but was harassed into six turnovers by the active Marquette defense.

Marquette stretched its lead to 38-21 by halftime and continued to pour it on in the third quarter, outscoring DePaul 24-15. The Golden Eagles’ offense operated with high efficiency, scoring 85 points on 76 possessions for an offensive rating of 111.5. They shot 50.9% from the floor and dominated the glass with a 10-6 advantage in offensive rebounds, leading to 13 second-chance points.

Beyond Forbes, Marquette showcased its depth. Jada Bediako of Brampton, Canada, contributed 12 points off the bench, while starters Halle Vice of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Lee Volker of Purcellville, Virginia, each added 12 and 9 points, respectively. Volker also filled the stat sheet with four assists, two blocks, and two steals. Olivia Porter of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, directed the offense with four assists and nine points.

DePaul’s offensive rating of 76.1 highlighted its struggles. Beyond West and Novik, only Michelle Ojo of Virginia Beach, Virginia, reached double figures with eight points. The Blue Demons also struggled at the free-throw line, making only 12 of 21 attempts.

The Golden Eagles’ ball movement proved superior, tallying eight assists to DePaul’s six, and they were more active defensively with eight steals. While both teams committed 17 turnovers, Marquette’s ability to capitalize on DePaul’s mistakes was a significant difference.

The victory extends Marquette’s positive momentum in the series and provides a confidence boost as they head into the heart of their conference schedule. DePaul, meanwhile, continues to search for consistency in a difficult start to the season.

UP NEXT

Marquette returns home to host Butler on Sunday. DePaul faces a steep challenge, traveling to face Connecticut on Sunday.