DePaul Streaks into UIC Game at McGrath Arena
11/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
#17/21 DePaul vs. Illinois-Chicago
Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007 | 7 p.m.
McGrath Arena | Chicago, Ill.
CHICAGO - DePaul puts four different winning streaks of at least 22 games on the line against the UIC Flames on Thursday night. The Blue Demons enter the game with 22 straight wins at home over non-conference opponents, 25 consecutive victories over teams from Illinois, 31 wins in-a-row against UIC and 42 straight victories against opponents from the Horizon League. DePaul, ranked No. 17 in this week’s AP poll and 21st in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches top 25, tangle with the Flames at McGrath Arena with a 7 p.m. start. Illinois-Chicago stands at 3-2 in the early portion of the season while DePaul enters the game at 4-0.
The Blue Demons enter the game as one of two undefeated BIG EAST teams. No. 2 Connecticut stands at 5-0 entering its game against BYU on Thursday night. UIC has won two straight and three of four since opening the season with a loss at Central Michigan.
Following the UIC game, the Blue Demons host Missouri State on Dec. 2 at McGrath Arena. The Thursday night contest with the Flames is the start of a four-game homestand for DePaul. Following the UIC and Missouri State games, the Blue Demons host Loyola-Chicago on Dec. 8 and Chicago State on Dec. 12. Last Sunday’s game at Illinois State marked the start of a stretch that has DePaul playing six of seven games against teams from the state of Illinois.
Against the State: DePaul has seen recent success against opponents from the state of Illinois. Over the last 40 games against Chicago State, Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Northwestern and Southern Illinois, the Blue Demons have posted 39 victories. The Blue Demons defeated Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Loyola-Chicago and Chicago State last season.
DePaul has won 46 of the last 48 games against state opponents and currently holds a 25-game winning streak against Illinois schools. The last loss to a state program was on Dec. 4, 2002, as Illinois defeated the Blue Demons in Champaign by a 71-67 score. During the 48-game stretch, both defeats have occurred at Illinois with the last home loss to an Illinois program on Nov. 20, 1998, against Northwestern. The Wildcats defeated the Blue Demons at Alumni Hall by a score of 62-61.
Noting the Blue Demons: With a school-record 250 three-pointers in 2006-07, DePaul has made at least 200 three’s in a season in eight straight years... the 2002-03 squad held the previous program record with 233 three’s in a season... since the start of the 2003-04 season (131 games), the Blue Demons have held 64.1 percent of their opponents to less than 70 points (84-of-131)... in that span, DePaul is 75-9 (.893) when holding opponents to less than 70 points... in 2006-07, the Blue Demons were 6-10 when allowing more than 70 points and 13-3 when holding the opposition to less than 70... in the last three-plus seasons, the Blue Demons are 76-25 (.752)... in the last 37 home games against conference opponents, DePaul has posted 34 victories (.919 winning pct.)... DePaul hasn’t scored 100 points since a 103-64 win over Charlotte on Jan. 16, 2005 (86 games)... over the last seven-plus seasons (224 games), DePaul has scored at least 80 points in 79 games... the Blue Demons hold a 75-4 (.949) record in those games... Pittsburgh handed DePaul its only loss in 2006-07 when scoring at least 80... the Panthers topped the Blue Demons, 87-80, on Feb. 24 at the Petersen Events Center... in 34 seasons of play at DePaul, the women’s basketball program is 593-352 (.628)... with two games in each of its two BIG EAST Tournaments, DePaul is just one of four teams to play in multiple conference tourney games... Connecticut, Rutgers and Pittsburgh have also played at least two games in each of the last two BIG EAST Championships.
Opponent 5 - UIC Flames: Illinois-Chicago stands at 3-2 entering Thursday’s contest... the Flames have won two straight and three of the last four after a 50-42 win over Northern Illinois on Nov. 25... they have also defeated Eastern Illinois and Northwestern at home while falling to Central Michigan and Bradley on the road... UIC returns six players and two starters from last season’s 19-13 team that played in the WNIT... the Flames were picked to finish fourth in the preseason Horizon League poll... Jessica Miller leads the team with 15.4 points per game while Briana Hinkle adds 13.0 points per contest... head coach Lisa Ryckbosch is in her sixth season at UIC... she holds a record of 78-69 with the Flames... Ryckbosch served as an assistant coach at DePaul from 1991-02.
The Series - DePaul leads 33-5: Thursday marks the 39th all-time meeting between the two programs... the Blue Demons have won 31 straight games in the series... the last loss to UIC was a 78-75 decision on Jan. 21, 1981 at UIC... a year ago, Allie Quigley, Caprice Smith and Jenna Rubino each recorded a double-double as DePaul topped the Flames, 74-65, at the UIC Pavilion... Thursday’s game is one of two this season against Horizon League opponents... DePaul hosts Loyola-Chicago on Dec. 8... the program has won 42 straight games against the current roster of Horizon League opponents... the last loss to a Horizon League school was at UW-Green Bay on Jan. 9, 1996, by a 68-64 score... overall, DePaul is 116-30 (795) against Horizon League opponents.
It Could Happen: A win would mark the eighth 5-0 start in school history... the Blue Demons have started the season at 5-0 in three of the last four campaigns... Caprice Smith needs seven points to pass Christine Jaksy (1978-81 - 1,015) for 20th all-time... with 14 points she passes Anne McDonald (1995-99 - 1,022) for 19th all-time... Allie Quigley needs five three-pointers to become the second player in school history with 200 three’s... with two assists Quigley moves into seventh all-time at DePaul passing Andrea Morgan (1984-88 - 325)... Quigley also needs 15 points to pass Melanee Ehrhardt (1986-90 - 1,552) for 11th all-time.
Demon Doings: Notes following the 80-75 win at Illinois State on Nov. 25:
- DePaul has won 25 straight, 39 of the last 40, and 46 of the last 48 games against opponents from Illinois... the last loss to an Illinois school was a 71-67 defeat at Illinois on Dec. 4, 2002.
- The Blue Demons are 4-0 to start the season for the 10th time in school history and the fourth time in the last five seasons.
- Caprice Smith’s three-pointer with 13:14 left in the second half gave her 1,000 career points... she is the 22nd player in school history with 1,000 career points... Smith finished the game with 1,009 points and is now in 21st all-time passing Veronica Ross (1,007 pts. 1986-90)... Illinois State’s Kristi Cirone also surpassed the 1,000-point plateau on Sunday afternoon.
- Allie Quigley registered her 25th career game of at least 20 points.
- Four players reached double-figures for the first time this season.
- DePaul is now 75-4 (.949) in the last seven-plus seasons when scoring at least 80 points.
- The Blue Demons now lead the series, 5-3, and have won two straight.
Home Cookin’: Through seven-plus seasons, McGrath Arena - formerly known as the DePaul Athletic Center - has proven itself as one of the toughest venues in the nation. The Blue Demons have posted an 86-11 record in the arena’s first 97 games. Now in the 34th season, the Blue Demons have an all-time home court record of 350-95 (.787). Over 26 seasons at Alumni Hall, the women’s basketball program won over 75 percent of their games with a 242-80 all-time record. At the Allstate Arena, the women’s program has posted an all-time record of 22-4.
In 33-plus seasons of women’s basketball at DePaul University there have been 14 streaks of at least 10 straight home victories. The longest streak was the 33-game run that started on Dec. 19, 2003 with a 99-63 win over Alabama State and ended on Jan. 28, 2006 with an 84-75 defeat to No. 5/4 Connecticut. The victory over Houston on Feb. 11, 2005, broke the former record of 20 games from Feb. 4, 1978-Feb. 19, 1979.
Over the last five-plus years, the team is 69-4 at home with the two of the four losses to teams ranked in the top five. DePaul lost in overtime to No. 2 Tennessee on Dec. 17, 2003, before the Connecticut loss in Jan. 2006. Maybe more impressive is that the Blue Demons average margin of victory during that span is 22.4 points per game.
The Blue Demons have also posted 65 victories in the last 66 games over unranked opponents. West Virginia ended DePaul’s 58-game streak over unranked opponents with a 74-63 decision on Jan. 9. During the 58-game streak, there were 54 victories at McGrath Arena and four wins at the Allstate Arena. Prior to the West Virginia loss, Tulane handed DePaul their last home loss to an unranked team on Mar. 2, 2002, with a 88-83 decision in the quarterfinals of the C-USA Tournament.
In 86 games against unranked opponents at McGrath Arena, DePaul has posted 81 victories. The Blue Demons enter Thursday’s game against Illinois-Chicago with a 22-game winning streak against non-conference opponents. DePaul last non-conference home loss was a 96-89 overtime decision to No. 2 Tennessee on Dec. 17, 2003.
Streaking: Dating back to last season and in some cases, the last couple of seasons, the Blue Demons have put together various streaks. Listed below are some current active streaks heading into Thursday’s game against Illinois-Chicago:
- 78 consecutive games with a three-pointer
- 25 straight wins against opponents from Illinois, 38 of the last 39, and 45 wins in the last 47 games
- five straight NCAA Championship appearances
- 92 consecutive starts for Allie Quigley
- 22 wins in-a-row at home against non-conference opponents
1K Club: Allie Quigley passed the 1,000-point mark against Northern Illinois on Nov. 25, 2006, to become the 20th player in school history to reach the mark. Quigley has totaled 1,538 points for 12th all-time and was joined on the 1,000-point list by Caprice Smith exactly one year later on Nov. 25, 2007. Smith eclipsed the mark at Illinois State to become the 22nd player in school history with 1,000 career points. She has totaled 1,009 career points in her 101 career games to rank 21st all-time at DePaul.
TV Time: The BIG EAST Conference totals a league-record 101 combined appearances this season featuring each of the league’s 16 programs. For the second straight year every game of the league tournament will be televised and the CSTV “Game of the Week” package will single out the BIG EAST as the nation’s only conference with a weekly women’s basketball night on CSTV. DePaul is scheduled to make at least eight regular-season television appearances starting on Jan. 2 against defending NCAA Champion Tennessee on ESPNU. The Blue Demons will also be seen on ESPNU in games against Pittsburgh on Jan. 6 and Notre Dame on Feb. 24. The BIG EAST TV Network will carry the Jan. 19 game at Marquette while the Jan. 22 game at Notre Dame will be on CSTV. Louisville visits McGrath Arena on Feb. 10 for an ESPN2-televised game. While the final home game of the regular season against Connecticut will be seen on CLTV in Chicago with the CPTV (Connecticut Public Television) feed.