ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — The DePaul women’s basketball team opened its season with a commanding victory, overwhelming the Valparaiso Beacons 92-54 in a nonconference matchup Tuesday night at Allstate Arena.

The Blue Demons, playing in front of an announced crowd of 1,050, used a dominant second-half performance to pull away, outscoring the Beacons 54-22 after the halftime break. The game unfolded largely as predicted by statistical models, with Interstat’s ELO system having given DePaul a 92.40 percent probability of victory.

Valparaiso, opening its own season with a loss, started the game with surprising offensive punch. The Beacons kept pace with the Blue Demons through the first quarter, trailing by just two points, 22-20. The second quarter saw both teams’ offenses cool, but DePaul managed to extend its lead slightly, taking a 38-32 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

Any hopes of a Valparaiso upset were extinguished in the third quarter. DePaul came out of the break with renewed intensity on both ends of the floor, erupting for 25 points while holding the Beacons to just nine. The Blue Demons’ offensive onslaught continued unabated in the final period, where they poured in 29 more points to cement the lopsided 38-point margin of victory.

DePaul’s win was fueled by a trio of standout performances. Natiah Nelson orchestrated the victory with a formidable double-double, scoring 13 points and hauling in 15 rebounds while also dishing out four assists in 34 minutes of action. Her work on the glass was instrumental in giving the Blue Demons multiple scoring opportunities.

Ally Timm provided the primary scoring spark for the home team, leading all players with 28 points on the night. She added two rebounds and two assists in her 30 minutes on the court. Complementing them was Kate Novik, who stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, six assists and three blocked shots over 32 minutes, showcasing a versatile two-way game.

The Blue Demons’ depth was also on full display. Alayna West contributed eight points and seven rebounds, while Michelle Ojo was a force off the bench with seven points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Justis Odom added six points for a DePaul squad that consistently found production from across its roster.

Valparaiso, which fell to 0-1 with the loss, was led by Fiona Connolly’s team-high 12 points. Mor Shabtai and Milana Nenadic each added eight points, with Nenadic pulling down six rebounds. Kamryn Winch was a bright spot on the boards for the Beacons, collecting a game-high 11 rebounds to go with four points.

The game was a tale of offensive efficiency, with DePaul’s firepower simply overwhelming Valparaiso over the final 20 minutes. The Beacons’ offense, which showed promise in the first quarter, stagnated as the game progressed, unable to match the Blue Demons’ sustained scoring bursts.

With the victory, DePaul begins its season 1-0 and will now prepare for a road test against UNLV on Sunday. The Blue Demons then face a quick turnaround with a trip to Bradley on Wednesday, Nov. 12, followed by a home contest against Northwestern on Monday, Nov. 17. The schedule intensifies in December with a marquee road game at perennial power Connecticut on Dec. 7.

Valparaiso, looking to rebound from its season-opening defeat, will hit the road for its next contest at Detroit on Saturday, Nov. 8. The Beacons then face a challenging stretch that includes a visit to Iowa State on Wednesday, Nov. 12, and their home opener against Milwaukee on Sunday, Nov. 16. The team will spend a significant portion of November on the road, including a multi-game trip to Cleveland, Ohio, around the Thanksgiving holiday.