CHICAGO – The University of Miami women’s basketball team (4-1) shot a season-best 48 percent on Sunday but could not contain the DePaul Blue Demons’ (2-2) offense, facing a 98-83 defeat at Wintrust Arena.

“That was an incredibly special performance by DePaul. They needed it and Doug and his staff do a fantastic job and they have two big-time basketball players who showed up for their team,” head coach Katie Meier said. “There was a lot of a lack of awareness on the defensive end and we need to get back to our identity. We need to be a lot smarter and commit more to the defensive end.

Freshman Lazaria Spearman recorded her third straight double-digit outing with a team-leading 19 points on a perfect 7-for-7 effort from the floor. Graduate student and Chicago native Destiny Harden showed out in her homecoming, totaling 18 points to go along with six rebounds and two steals.

Sophomore Ja’Leah Williams and senior Haley Cavinder joined Harden and Spearman in double-digits with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Harden put on an incredible show in the first 10 minutes of action, shooting 5-for-5, including three 3-pointers, to total 15 points in the first quarter. As a team, Miami shot 83 percent in the frame and was perfect from 3-point range.

The Blue Demons responded with four 3-pointers in the second quarter to take a 10-point, 53-43, lead into the locker room at halftime.

DePaul could not miss in the third quarter, knocking down 9-of-14 shots from the field to stretch its lead to 20. Spearman became the third Hurricane to reach double-figures, recording eight of her 19 points in the third quarter.

Miami put together an 8-0 run in the final minutes of the third to pull to within 12 heading into the final 10 minutes. However, the Blue Demons outscored the Hurricanes, 22-19, in the fourth quarter to close out the game in their favor.

The Hurricanes remain in Chicago for their second road game of the season, taking on the Loyola Chicago Ramblers at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Season tickets for the 2022-23 women’s basketball home schedule start at $75 and can be purchased online or by calling the Miami Hurricanes ticket office at 1-800-GO-CANES. Single-game tickets are available for purchase online or by phone, as well. For more details, dial that number or email canestix@miami.edu.