Wednesday Matinee for DePaul and Chicago State
12/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
#16/16 DePaul vs. Chicago State
Wednesday, Dec. 12 | Noon
McGrath Arena | Chicago, Ill.
CHICAGO - DePaul looks to improve to 8-0 for just the third time in school history with a Wednesday afternoon game against Chicago State. The game concludes a four-game homestand for the Blue Demons as they play the next four games away from Chicago. DePaul, ranked No. 16 in both of this week’s AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches top 25’s, tangle with the Cougars at McGrath Arena at Noon. Chicago State stands at 4-3 in the early portion of the season while DePaul enters the game at 7-0. The Blue Demons are one of two undefeated BIG EAST teams as Connecticut also stands at 7-0.
Following the Chicago State game, the Blue Demons travel to Northern Illinois on Dec. 17 and Northwestern on Dec. 20. The Blue Demons are also in the midst of a seven-game stretch where they play six opponents from the state of Illinois.
December finishes with the Maggie Dixon Surf N Slam Classic in San Diego as DePaul takes on No. 20/23 Texas on Dec. 28 and host San Diego or Appalachian State on Dec. 30.
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 (134 games), the Blue Demons have held 64.9 percent of their opponents to less than 70 points (87-of-134)... in that span, DePaul is 78-9 (.897) 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 79-25 (.760)... 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 (89 games)... over the last seven-plus seasons (227 games), DePaul has scored at least 80 points in 81 games... the Blue Demons hold a 77-4 (.951) 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 596-352 (.629)... 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 8 - Chicago State Cougars: Chicago State enters Wednesday’s game at 4-3 following a 73-46 loss to Illinois on Dec. 9... the loss ended a three-game winning streak that consisted of victories over Loyola-Chicago, Grambling State and Lamar... the Cougars return five players and three starters from last season’s 9-20 team... Jasmin Dixon leads the team with 18.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game... she is followed by Alyssa Waldon with 10.0 points per contest and 11 three-pointers... head coach Angela Jackson is in her sixth season at Chicago State... she holds a record of 46-74 with the Cougars.
The Series - DePaul leads 8-3: Wednesday is the 12th all-time meeting between the two programs... Chicago State claimed the first three games before DePaul has won the last eight meetings... a year ago at Chicago State, DePaul posted a 77-71 victory... Caprice Smith led DePaul with 23 points and nine rebounds while Allie Quigley added 19 points and nine boards.
It Could Happen: A win would mark the third 8-0 start in school history... the Blue Demons started the season at 8-0 in 1985-86 and 2003-04... a win would also extend current winning streaks of: 25 straight home wins against non-conference opponents and 27 consecutive wins over Illinois opponents... the game will be No. 105 for Allie Quigley and Caprice Smith moving them into 30th all-time passing assistant coach Candis Blankson... Blankson played in 104 career games at DePaul from 1997-01... Quigley needs 15 points to pass Debra Robinson (1978-82 - 1,592) for ninth all-time... with six assists, she passes Tammy Williams (1991-93 - 337) for sixth all-time... Smith needs 10 rebounds for 600 career boards.
Against the State: DePaul has seen recent success against opponents from the state of Illinois. Over the last 42 games against Chicago State, Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Northwestern and Southern Illinois, the Blue Demons have posted 41 victories. The Blue Demons defeated Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Loyola-Chicago and Chicago State last season.
DePaul has won 48 of the last 50 games against state opponents and currently holds a 27-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 50-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.
Demon Doings: Notes following the 93-51 win against Loyola-Chicago on Dec. 8:
- The 7-0 start is the fourth all-time.
- The game was No. 100 at McGrath Arena... the Blue Demons are now 89-11 all-time in the facility.
- DePaul has won 25 straight at home over non-conference opponents, 27 straight against Illinois teams and 44 consecutive games against Horizon League programs... in addition to the 27 straight wins over Illinois programs, the Blue Demons have also won 41 of the last 42 and 48 of the last 50.
- Allie Quigley joined Lenae Williams (1998-02) as the only two players in school history to hit 200 three-pointers... she also passed Mfon Udoka (1994-98) for 10th all-time in scoring.
- Caprice Smith passed Anne McDonald (1995-99) for 19th all-time in scoring.
- DePaul has won 14 straight against Loyola and lead the series, 31-9.
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 89-11 record in the arena’s first 100 games. Now in the 34th season, the Blue Demons have an all-time home court record of 353-95 (.788). 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 72-4 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 23.1 points per game.
The Blue Demons have also posted 68 victories in the last 69 games over unranked opponents. West Virginia ended DePaul’s 58-game streak over unranked opponents with a 74-63 decision on Jan. 9, 2007. 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 89 games against unranked opponents at McGrath Arena, DePaul has posted 84 victories. The Blue Demons enter Wednesday’s game against Chicago State with a 25-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.
Taking Advantage from Beyond the Arc: Since the start of the 2004-05 season, the club has knocked down 750 trifectas compared to just 466 for the opposition. Including the 2006-07 season, the team has totaled at least 200 three-pointers in each of the last eight seasons. With a 0-for-8 showing against Houston on Feb. 11, 2005, DePaul’s streak of games with a three-pointer ended at 259 games. At the time, it was the nation’s seventh-longest active streak. Including the Houston game, the Blue Demons have tallied a three-pointer in 340 of the last 341 games. The Missouri State game marked the 80th straight contest with at least one three-pointer.
In seven games this season, the Blue Demons have outscored their opponents by 48 points from three-point range (6.9 ppg). DePaul is 53-161 (.329) from behind the arc while opponents are a combined 37-122 (.303). The squad averages 7.6 three’s per game while the opposition makes 5.3 treys per contest. The trio of Missy Mitidiero, Deirdre Naughton and Allie Quigley have combined for 38 three’s this season - one more than the 37 for all of DePaul’s opponents combined.
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 Wednesday’s game against Chicago State:
- 81 consecutive games with a three-pointer
- 27 straight wins against opponents from Illinois, 40 of the last 41, and 48 wins in the last 50 games
- five straight NCAA Championship appearances
- 95 consecutive starts for Allie Quigley
- 25 wins in-a-row at home against non-conference opponents
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. Recently, West Virginia Public Broadcasting announced a nine-game television package with the DePaul-West Virginia game in Morgantown on Feb. 16 on WV PBS.