ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — DePaul used a dominant second quarter and a balanced offensive attack to pull away from Massachusetts-Lowell for a 78-48 victory in nonconference women’s basketball action Thursday night at Allstate Arena.

The Blue Demons, who entered the game with just two wins, improved to 3-8 on the season, while the River Hawks fell to 4-6.

The game’s decisive stretch came in the second period. After a competitive first quarter that ended with DePaul leading 15-9, the Blue Demons erupted for a 24-point second quarter, outscoring the River Hawks by 12 to take a commanding 39-21 lead into halftime. DePaul’s defense fueled the run, forcing 10 first-half turnovers and converting them into 18 points. The Blue Demons also established a significant presence inside, outscoring UMass Lowell 26-8 in the paint during the first half.

DePaul’s offensive execution continued after the break, as the home team poured in 29 points in the third quarter to extend its lead to 68-36, effectively putting the game out of reach. The River Hawks showed resilience in the fourth, winning the final period 12-10, but the deficit was too large to overcome.

The Blue Demons were led by a standout performance from Kate Novik of Grodno, Belarus. The 6-foot guard orchestrated the offense with a double-double, scoring 12 points and dishing out 10 assists while adding two blocks. Michelle Ojo of Virginia Beach, Virginia, provided efficient scoring off the bench, matching the game-high with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting in just 22 minutes of play.

Natiah Nelson of Perrysburg, Ohio, was a force in the paint for DePaul, contributing 14 points and a game-high five offensive rebounds. Meg Newman of Indianapolis added 10 points and seven rebounds, while Ally Timm of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, chipped in nine points, all from beyond the arc.

For Massachusetts-Lowell, the offense ran primarily through Jaini Edmonds. The junior guard from Worcester, Massachusetts, shouldered the scoring load, finishing with 20 points, four assists, and two blocks in 34 minutes. No other River Hawk reached double figures, with Anabel Latorre Ciria of Zaragoza, Spain, the next highest scorer with six points.

DePaul’s defense was the story, as they harassed UMass Lowell into 22 turnovers, converting those miscues into 32 points. The Blue Demons also dominated the interior, finishing with a 48-26 advantage in points in the paint and a 44-33 edge in total rebounds.

The game drew an announced crowd of 839 to Allstate Arena. According to Interstat’s ELO system, DePaul entered the contest with a 97.5 percent probability to win.

The victory provides a positive momentum shift for DePaul, which had lost eight of its last nine games, including a 102-35 defeat at Connecticut on Sunday. The Blue Demons will look to build on the win when they host Michigan State on Sunday.

Massachusetts-Lowell, which had won two of its last three, continues its challenging nonconference slate. The River Hawks return home to face Long Island on Sunday.