DePaul hits 16 treys, routs Marquette for Big East title
CHICAGO (AP) — Amarah Coleman scored a career-high 27 points and No. 2 seed DePaul routed top-seeded Marquette 98-63 on Tuesday night for the Big East Conference Tournament championship and automatic NCAA berth.
DePaul (26-7) made 16 3-pointers, one shy of a tournament record. Each Blue Demon starter finished in double-scoring after three quarters. Coleman led with 25 points as the Blue Demons built a 35-point lead, 83-48, and avenged last season’s eight-point loss in the title game to the Golden Eagles in Milwaukee.
The teams tied for the regular-season title and split their two meetings, each winning on its home court. DePaul has won 12 of their last 13 games since their 26-point loss at Villanova on Jan. 19. Marquette (23-9) had its eight-game win streak snapped.
It is DePaul’s third Big East Tournament title.
Seven DePaul players made at least one 3-pointer, four had five or more assists, and two finished with double-doubles.
Amani Wilborn, last season’s conference tournament Most Outstanding Player, scored 12 points before fouling out early in the fourth quarter for Marquette.