DePaul University Athletics
Women's Hoops Host RTU Klondaika In Final Exhibition Game
11/6/2001 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
DePaul vs. RTU Klondaika (Latvia)
Wednesday, November 7 - 7 p.m.
DePaul Athletic Center
Final Tune Up
Doug Bruno and the DePaul Blue Demons host RTU Klondaika of Latvia in their final exhibition contest. The Blue Demons and Latvians tipoff at 7 p.m. at the DePaul Athletic Center.
What's Back in 2001-02
DePaul returns seven players from last year's 18-14 WNIT team that lost to eventual champion Ohio State in the second round. Of the seven returners, six played in at least 20 games last season. The Blue Demons also return three players that started at least 10 games a year ago.
DePaul Tops Challengers in Opener
Seven players in double-figures and a 34-8 second half run proved to be too much as the Blue Demons won their first exhibition game of the 2001-02 season, 117-60, ove the Chicago Challengers on Sunday afternoon.
Lenae Williams led the way with a game-high 32 points while Sarah Kustok scored 17 and Laura Sobieszczyk added 16 points for DePaul. Others in double-figures included Yolanda Lewis with 11 points and freshman Jenni Dant and Lindsay Forsberg with 10 points each. Freshman Khara Smith had an impressive debut recording a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
After taking a 45-30 lead at halftime, the Blue Demons shot .703 from the field in the second half and outscored the Challengers, 72-30. DePaul lead grew to as large as 60 points before a three-pointer by the Challengers at the buzzer.
Moran Realty Classic Preview
The 2001 Moran Realty Classic takes place at the DePaul Athletic Center, Nov. 16-17. Since 1997, Moran Realty has sponsored the four-team invitational. Teams from across the country have traveled to Chicago to play in the event and this year's field is no different as team from four different conferences tangle this weekend.
Arkansas State, representing the Sun Belt Conference will play Western Michigan from the Mid-American Conference in the first game on Friday night. Game two on Friday will see host DePaul from Conference USA against Eastern Washington of the Big Sky Conference.
True Student-Athletes
Earlier this summer, the program was rewarded for their hard work in the classroom by being named to the WBCA Academic Top 25. DePaul was ranked in the top 20 for the second time in the last three seasons. DePaul finished 13th in the NCAA Division I basketball after placing 20th following the 1998-99 season.
Preseason Picks
DePaul senior forward Lenae Williams has been selected by Conference USA coaches to the league's preseason team while the Blue Demons were picked seventh. With the expansion to 14 Conference USA teams this year, there will be one division instead of two as in previous seasons.
Williams receives preseason honors for the second consecutive season after being named second-team All-C-USA last year. She has already established herself as one of the most prolific shooters in DePaul and C-USA history with 237 career three-pointers. Williams finished the 2000-01 campaign ranked first in the league in three-point field goals per game (2.45), second in free throw percentage (.827) and third in scoring (18.2 ppg).
Conference USA Preseason Poll
1. Tulane
2. Louisville
3. TCU
4. Cincinnati
5. Houston
6. UAB
7. DePaul
8. Marquette
9. Memphis
10. Southern Miss
11. Charlotte
12. Saint Louis
13. East Carolina
14. South Florida
All-Conference Team
Deanna Jackson, UAB (Player of the Year)
Chandi Jones, Houston
Valerie King, Cincinnati
Teana McKiver, Tulane
Sara Nord, Louisville
Lenae Williams, DePaul
2002 Conference USA Tournament
The DePaul Athletic Center will be the site of the 2002 Conference USA Women's Basketball Tournament. The semifinals will be broadcasted on the C-USA Television Network while ESPN2 will carry the final game.
The top 12 finishers in the Conference USA regular season standings qualify for the four-day tourney. The teams with the four best league records earn first-round byes.
All session passes are available for $35 for adults and $24 for student/youths. Individual session tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for youths. All tickets for the tournament will be general admission.
For further ticket information, contact the DePaul University ticket office at 773-325-7526 or online at www.depaulbluedemons.com.
