ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — The DePaul women’s basketball team opened its season with a dominant 92-54 victory over Valparaiso on Tuesday night at Allstate Arena, overwhelming the Beacons with a relentless defensive effort and a balanced scoring attack.

The Blue Demons seized control of the game with a decisive third quarter, outscoring the Beacons 25-9 to turn a competitive first half into a lopsided affair. DePaul’s defense was the story of the game, forcing Valparaiso into 33 turnovers and converting those into numerous fast-break opportunities. DePaul also recorded 21 steals and seven blocks, stifling the Valparaiso offense throughout the contest.

Natiah Nelson led the way for DePaul with a double-double, scoring 13 points and pulling down 15 rebounds to go along with four assists. Ally Timm was the game’s leading scorer, pouring in 28 points for the Blue Demons. Kate Novik filled the stat sheet with 19 points, six assists and three blocks.

Valparaiso, which opened its season with a loss, was led by Fiona Connolly’s 12 points. Kamryn Winch anchored the interior for the Beacons, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.

DePaul’s offensive efficiency was starkly superior, as the Blue Demons scored 92 points on 86 possessions compared to Valparaiso’s 54 points on 85 possessions. The Blue Demons also shared the ball effectively, dishing out 21 assists as a team.

The game was close after the first quarter, with DePaul holding a narrow 22-20 lead. The Blue Demons began to create separation in the second quarter and led 38-32 at halftime before their explosive third-quarter run put the game out of reach. DePaul’s offensive outburst continued in the final period, where they added 29 points.

DePaul improved to 1-0 and will travel to face UNLV on Sunday. Valparaiso fell to 0-1 and will look for its first win on the road at Detroit on Saturday. An announced crowd of 1,050 attended the game.