DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Face Chicago Challengers on "Alumni Night"
11/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO – The DePaul women's basketball team closes the exhibition portion of the schedule on Saturday evening with a 6 p.m. game against the Chicago Challengers. It will be an "Alumni Night" setting as the Challengers' roster features six former Blue Demons. It is the first game of a DePaul basketball doubleheader with a men's exhibition game against Trinity Christian at 8 p.m.
The Blue Demons enter the season ranked No. 19 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches' top 25 and No. 18 in the preseason Associate Press poll. Head coach Doug Bruno returns four starters and nine players from last season's NCAA Tournament team that posted a 26-5 record. DePaul is one of four BIG EAST programs in both top 25's.
DePaul heads into the 2005-06 season looking for the fourth straight 20-win season and fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Preseason All-American and National Player of the Year candidate Khara Smith is back for her senior season along with starters Erin Carney, Allie Quigley and Jenna Rubino from the 2040-05 squad that led the nation in scoring and assists per game.
The Chicago Challengers feature six former DePaul players. Sue Bland, Jenni Dant, Jamie Lewis, Kris Rastrelli, Carla Stone and Tammy Williams are scheduled to face the current Blue Demon roster. The Challengers take on Northwestern on Friday night and split a pair of games earlier in the week against Loyola and Illinois-Chicago. They topped UIC, 90-86, on Wednesday evening before falling, 71-59, at Loyola on Thursday.
The regular-season opens with the DePaul Invitational when the Blue Demons host Alabama State, Harvard and UNLV in a two-day tournament. The action kicks off on Friday, Nov. 18 when Alabama State and UNLV clash at 5:30 p.m. followed by DePaul and Harvard at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the two winners play in the championship at 7:30 p.m. preceded by the consolation game at 5:30 p.m.
