PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Interstat) — In a game defined more by grit than grace, the Providence Friars grinded out a 66-60 victory over the DePaul Blue Demons in a Big East women’s basketball contest Wednesday night at Dunkin’ Center.

The matchup, played before an intimate crowd of 795, saw both teams struggle mightily from the perimeter and the free-throw line, but Providence’s decisive advantage in the paint and a clutch final minute proved enough to secure the win and move to .500 on the season at 14-14. DePaul, despite a heroic scoring effort from Kate Novik, fell to 6-22.

The game’s pivotal sequence came in the final 30 seconds with Providence clinging to a 63-60 lead. After a DePaul timeout, the Blue Demons’ inbound play disintegrated, resulting in a turnover by Michelle Ojo that was stolen by Providence’s Orlagh Gormley. Fouled immediately, Gormley, a sophomore guard from Quincy, Massachusetts, calmly sank both free throws with six seconds remaining to push the lead to five and effectively seal the outcome.

That closing play was a fitting microcosm of the entire contest: a defensive struggle where every possession was paramount. Neither team shot above 42% from the field, with three-point shooting a particular adventure. Providence made just 1 of 14 attempts from beyond the arc, while DePaul connected on only 6 of 26. The charity stripe offered little relief, as DePaul shot a dismal 10 for 23 and Providence a subpar 13 for 20.

The difference was forged inside, where the Friars outscored DePaul 46-32 in the paint, and in capitalizing on mistakes, converting 18 points off 13 DePaul turnovers. Providence’s interior presence was led by Teneisia Brown of Montego Bay, Jamaica, who scored 14 points and grabbed a game-high three offensive rebounds, and Sabou Gueye of Dakar, Senegal, who added 15 points.

DePaul was carried by the individual brilliance of Novik. The junior from Grodno, Belarus, poured in a game-high 23 points over 34 minutes, adding five assists and two blocks. She was the primary source of offense for a Blue Demons team that managed only seven total assists on 22 made field goals. Guard Devin Hagemann of Detroit chipped in eight points and seven assists.

The game unfolded in tense, low-scoring quarters. DePaul held a narrow 15-14 lead after one period, but a 16-9 advantage in the second quarter sent Providence into halftime with a 30-24 lead. The third quarter was an even 20-20 stalemate, setting up a final frame where the Friars managed to answer every DePaul push.

Providence’s Gormley was instrumental throughout, finishing with 18 points, two assists and a critical four steals, including the game-clincher. Her backcourt pressure and ability to attack the rim provided a steadying force for the Friars on a night where outside shots would not fall.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Providence, which defeated DePaul 69-59 in Chicago on Jan. 4. According to Interstat’s ELO system, the Friars entered the game with a 77.3% probability to win.

DePaul, which has lost three of its last four, will look to regroup at home against Xavier on Sunday. Providence faces a steep challenge, traveling to face national powerhouse Connecticut, also on Sunday.