DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Announces Women's Basketball Schedule
9/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
2004-05 Schedule
CHICAGO – DePaul women’s basketball coach Doug Bruno announced today the 2004-05 schedule. The Blue Demons are coming off one of the most successful seasons in school history that saw them post a 23-7 record and advance to the NCAA Tournament's second round. DePaul finished the 2003-04 campaign ranked 25th in the ESPN/USA Today/WBCA Coaches poll. This season, the club could face 12 teams that played in either the NCAA Tournament or WNIT a year ago.
"With all the anticipation and excitement about moving to the BIG EAST, we are so very much looking forward to our final season in Conference USA," said Bruno. "C-USA has been one of the best, yet most unheralded, women's basketball conferences in the country. This season will be no different with at least seven teams possessing a legitimate chance to win the C-USA Championship."
Flavored with local rivals and annual match-ups, the non-conference portion of the schedule opens with the Moran Realty Classic, Nov. 19-20. USC and Massachusetts play in the first game on Nov. 19 followed by host DePaul and Murray State. The two winners play on Nov. 20 after the consolation game. All four games will be played at the DePaul Athletic Center.
DePaul takes on UW-Milwaukee, Northwestern and UIC in home games to close the month of November. On Dec. 6, the Blue Demons host Loyola-Chicago before going on the road for six straight games. DePaul plays at Purdue on Dec. 9 and Tennessee on Dec. 12 before traveling to Northern Illinois on Dec. 15 and St. Peter's on Dec. 21.
The second tournament of the season takes place Dec. 29-30 in Hanover, N.H. DePaul is one of four teams at the Blue Sky Classic hosted by Dartmouth. The Blue Demons play Valparaiso on the first day followed by Dartmouth and Richmond. The final non-conference game of the regular season is set for Jan. 2 against Holy Cross at the DePaul Athletic Center.
“Our non-conference schedule will again prove very challenging. Everyone is aware of perennial powers Tennessee and Purdue both on the road," said Bruno. "The world does not realize how tough the Moran Realty Classic will be with both UMass and Southern Cal opposite a very tough opening round game against Murray State. Dartmouth has been picked to win the Ivy and features one of the best Ivy League players ever in 6’4" sophomore Elise Morrison. Morrison chose Dartmouth over both Stanford and Duke. Valparaiso competed in last season’s NCAA tourney, while the A-10’s Richmond should have been there.”
Conference USA action opens up at Marquette on Jan. 9 in a game televised on ESPN2. It is one of two ESPN2 games for the Blue Demons this season, joining the TCU contest on Feb. 13 at the DePaul Athletic Center. Home C-USA games in 2005 include East Carolina, Charlotte, UAB, USF, Houston, TCU and Marquette while the Blue Demons travel to Marquette, Tulane, Southern Miss, Louisville, Cincinnati, Saint Louis and Memphis. The 10th annual C-USA Tournament is set for Mar. 3-6 in Charlotte, N.C.
