ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive second-quarter swing and a standout performance from Kate Novik, the DePaul Blue Demons overcame a fast start by the Xavier Musketeers to secure a 76-67 victory in a Big East Conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Allstate Arena.

The Musketeers, fueled by an explosive first quarter, raced out to an early lead. Xavier connected on 10 of its first 16 field goal attempts, dominating the paint and capitalizing on early DePaul miscues. MacKenzie Givens of Cincinnati, Ohio, was instrumental in the opening frame, scoring 11 of her game-high 22 points as Xavier built a 26-18 advantage after ten minutes.

The complexion of the contest shifted dramatically in the second period. DePaul’s defense, spearheaded by active hands and disruptive pressure, ignited a game-changing run. The Blue Demons forced eight Xavier turnovers in the quarter, converting those mistakes into a staggering 18-point advantage in points off turnovers for the game. While Xavier’s offense stagnated, managing only 12 points in the quarter on 5-of-15 shooting, DePaul found its rhythm. A 12-2 run midway through the period erased the deficit and gave the Blue Demons a lead they would not relinquish. DePaul outscored Xavier 21-12 in the quarter to take a 39-38 lead into halftime.

The most important part of the game was this sustained defensive pressure by DePaul throughout the second and third quarters, which systematically dismantled Xavier’s offensive flow. After their hot start, the Musketeers were held to just 21 points combined over the second and third quarters. DePaul’s 13 steals, led by Novik’s five, consistently disrupted Xavier’s sets and generated transition opportunities. This defensive effort compensated for a subpar shooting afternoon for both teams, as DePaul shot 39.1% from the field and Xavier 44.3%.

Novik, a 6-foot guard from Grodno, Belarus, was the catalyst for the Blue Demons, stuffing the stat sheet with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals and a block. Her all-around play facilitated DePaul’s offense and anchored its defensive intensity. She was supported by Michelle Ojo of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who added 15 points and seven rebounds, and Devin Hagemann of Detroit, Michigan, who chipped in 10 points.

Xavier, which fell to 11-16 overall, was led by Givens’s 22 points. Meri Kanerva of Espoo, Finland, contributed 14 points and six assists, while Savannah White of Saint Paul, Minnesota, grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to go with four blocks. Despite winning the rebounding battle 46-41 and scoring 46 points in the paint, the Musketeers could not overcome their 14 turnovers and DePaul’s 26 points generated from them.

DePaul, which improved to 7-22, also received key contributions from Alayna West of Madison, Wisconsin, who had eight points, five rebounds and five assists, and Natiah Nelson of Perrysburg, Ohio, who added eight points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

The Blue Demons maintained their lead throughout the second half, weathering a late push from Xavier in the fourth quarter. The Musketeers closed to within four points on a Givens layup with 4:27 remaining, but DePaul responded with a critical 8-2 run over the next two minutes, capped by a three-pointer from West, to extend the lead back to 10 and effectively seal the game.

The victory marked a season split for the two teams, avenging a 71-61 DePaul loss at Xavier on Jan. 13. A crowd of 3,071 attended the game at Allstate Arena.

DePaul next hosts Butler on Wednesday. Xavier travels to face Marquette, also on Wednesday.