Women's Hoops Opens Exhibition Season
11/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - The DePaul women's basketball team plays the first of two exhibition contests on Wednesday night against the National Team of Holland. Tipoff at the DePaul Athletic Center is set for 7 p.m. The Blue Demons wrap up the preseason tune-ups with a Saturday evening game against the Chicago Challengers.
The National Team of Holland is in the midst of an eight-game swing through the Midwest. DePaul is their fifth opponent with the team dropping three of their first four games. The club opened the tour with a 94-71 loss at Illinois followed by an 80-34 defeat at Purdue. On Monday, Holland fell at Michigan, 73-35 before coming back and knocking off Northwestern, 68-62, in overtime. The roster is made up of players from ages 17 to 29.
DePaul heads into the 2003-04 season looking to improve on their 22-10 record and NCAA Tournament appearance last year. Preseason All-Conference USA honoree Jenni Dant is the top returning scorer with 14.4 points per game in 2002-03. Overall, the Blue Demons return nine players from a year ago that combined for 84 percent of the scoring, 74 percent of the rebounding and 71 percent of the minutes played.
In the preseason Conference USA coaches poll, DePaul was picked to finish second behind the TCU Horned Frogs. The club opens the regular season with the annual Moran Realty Classic, Nov. 21-22. Northwestern State and Ball State start the action at 6 p.m. on Friday followed by DePaul and UW-Milwaukee. Saturday's conslation game is set for 6 p.m. and the championship game tips off at 8 p.m.
The Blue Demons close the exhibition schedule on Saturday against the Chicago Challengers. Gametime is at 6 p.m. with the DePaul men's team playing the Spot Lite Jammers at 8 p.m. in their final exhibition tune-up.