CHICAGO - DePaul erased a nine-point deficit in the final minutes against No. 22/22 Syracuse before falling, 69-66, in BIG EAST action at McGrath Arena. Chandrea Jones' putback with 12 seconds left gave Syracuse a two-point lead before Nicole Michael added a free throw with two seconds left to seal the win.

As expected with two top 25 teams that entered the game tied in the BIG EAST standings, the game was back-and-forth with 12 lead changes. Following a game-opening layup by Michael, No. 23/24 DePaul built a six-point lead within the first five minutes behind three three-pointers from Missy Mitidiero.

Syracuse answered and scored the game's next 11 points to take a 20-15 advantage as Jones knocked down a jumper midway through the opening frame. After the Blue Demons went back ahead by five points with a 15-4 run, the Orange went into intermission holding a slim 37-35 lead.

Neither side led by more than six points in the second half until Jones sank two free throws followed by a pair of free throws by Fantasia Goodwin to give the visitors a 64-55 lead with 3:49 left in the game.

A minute later, Felicia Chester scored on a turnaround jumper in the paint and started a run of 10 straight points for DePaul. After Chester's bucket, Deirdre Naughton converted a three-point play and was followed by a breakaway lay-up by Missy Mitidiero to pull DePaul to within two points.

Naughton knocked down the second of two free throw attempts after being fouled before Allie Quigley stole the ensuing inbounds pass and scored to give the Blue Demons a 65-64 lead with just over a minute remaining.

Syracuse (17-3, 5-2 BIG EAST) ended the run when Vionca Murray putback a miss by Michael before Quigley hit a free throw to tie the game at 66 with 37 seconds left.

The Blue Demons forced a missed three-point attempt from Erica Morrow, but Jones was there and scored the deciding basket with 12 seconds left.

Murray scored 17 points to lead Syracuse while Morrow added 15 and Jones scored 12 with nine rebounds.

DePaul (15-5, 4-3 BIG EAST) was led by Naughton’s 20 points and five rebounds. Chester added 13 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots off the bench and Mitidiero totaled 13 with three three-pointers. Quigley finished with 12 points, five assists and four boards while Natasha Williams pulled down 10 boards with six points.

The Blue Demons close their three-game homestand on Saturday afternoon against the Villanova Wildcats. Start time is scheduled for 2 p.m. at McGrath Arena.

Game Notes: Natasha Williams moved into a tie with three others at 36 blocked shots this season... Caprice Smith moved into 10th all-time in rebounding... she now has 657 career boards... Allie Quigley extended her double-figure streak to 30 straight games... the two steals moved her into ninth all-time with 201... DePaul is now 1-5 when trailing at halftime and 1-3 when scoring less than 70 points this season... the three losses are the most at home since dropping five during the 2001-02 season... that team posted a 9-5 record at home in DePaul’s second season at McGrath Arena... DePaul now leads the series, 2-1.