DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Looks to Match Program's Best Start
12/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
#16/16 DePaul at Northern Illinois
Monday, Dec. 17 | 7 p.m.
Convocation Center | DeKalb, Ill.
CHICAGO - In the program’s 950th game, DePaul looks to match its all-time best start at 9-0 with a Monday night game at Northern Illinois. The Blue Demons have won eight straight to start a season for just the second time in the 34 seasons of women’s basketball at DePaul University.
DePaul, ranked No. 16 in both of last week’s AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches top 25’s, tangle with the Huskies at the Convocation Center in DeKalb, Ill., at 7 p.m. Northern Illinois stands at 3-6 in the early portion of the season while DePaul enters the game at 8-0. Through games of Nov. 15, DePaul is just one of seven teams nationally without a loss this season. Joining DePaul on the undefeated list is Arkansas (11-0), Connecticut (7-0), Georgia (8-0), Oklahoma State (8-0), Tennessee (8-0) and VCU (7-0).
Following the Northern Illinois game, the Blue Demons travel to Northwestern on Dec. 20. The Blue Demons finish a seven-game stretch this week where they play six opponents from the state of Illinois. DePaul enters the Northern Illinois game with a 28-game winning streak against programs from 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: Monday’s game at Northern Illinois is No. 950 in program history... in the last four games, the Blue Demons have held opponents to 48.2 points per game while averaging 84.5 points per contest... 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 (135 games), the Blue Demons have held 65.2 percent of their opponents to less than 70 points (88-of-135)... in that span, DePaul is 79-9 (.898) 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 80-25 (.762)... 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 (90 games)... over the last seven-plus seasons (228 games), DePaul has scored at least 80 points in 82 games... the Blue Demons hold a 78-4 (.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 597-352 (.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 9 - Northern Illinois Huskies: Northern Illinois enters Monday’s game at 3-6... a 90-82 win over St. Joseph’s in the second game of the Hawkeye Classic on Dec. 9 snapped a five-game losing streak... the Huskies are playing at home for the first time since a 60-59 win over Western Illinois on Nov. 15... the Huskies return six players and two starters from last season’s 19-12 team... Kylie York leads the team with 13.1 points per game and 26 thre-point field goals... she is followed by Jessie Wilcox with 9.4 points per contest... head coach Carol Owens is in her third season at Northern Illinois... she holds a record of 34-35 with the Huskies... Owens served as an assistant coach with Doug Bruno the last two summers as they led USA Basketball to gold medals at the FIBA Americas and FIBA World Championships.
The Series - DePaul leads 28-7: Monday is the 36th all-time meeting between the two programs... DePaul has won each of the last 13 meetings... a year ago at McGrath Arena, DePaul posted a 71-68 victory... Erin Cattell (14 pts./14 reb.) and Caprice Smith (13 pts./13 reb.) each tallied a double-double while Missy Mitidiero scored 19 points to lead the Blue Demons... in DeKalb, the Blue Demons have won 11 of 16 games.
It Could Happen: A win would tie the best start in school history after nine games... only the 1985-96 squad started the season at 9-0... a win would extend the 28-game winning streak against Illinois opponents... Allie Quigley needs three assists to pass Tammy Williams (1991-93 - 337 assists) for sixth all-time... Caprice Smith needs three rebounds for 600 career boards.
Against the State: DePaul has seen recent success against opponents from the state of Illinois. Over the last 43 games against Chicago State, Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Northwestern and Southern Illinois, the Blue Demons have posted 42 victories. The Blue Demons defeated Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Loyola-Chicago and Chicago State last season. In the first eight games of the 2007-08 schedule, DePaul has knocked off Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Illinois-Chicago, Loyola-Chicago and Chicago State.
DePaul has won 49 of the last 51 games against state opponents and currently holds a 28-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 51-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 91-59 win against Loyola-Chicago on Dec. 8:
- DePaul improves to 8-0 for just the third time in school history... the Blue Demons started the season 8-0 in 1985-86 and 2003-04.
- DePaul has won 26 straight home non-conference games and 28 in-a-row over teams from Illinois... the Blue Demons have also won 42 of the last 43 and 49 of the last 51 against Illinois programs.
- Allie Quigley passed Debra Robinson (1978-82, 1,592 pts.) and Beth Hasenmiller (1987-91, 1,600 pts.) to move into eighth all-time... Quigley has totaled 1,601 points in 105 career games.
- The Blue Demons scored 90-plus points in two straight games for the first time since Dec. 2005... DePaul posted a 99-61 win over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 17 and a 96-48 win at Loyola-Chicago on Dec. 20.
- DePaul has outscored its last four opponents by 145 points (36.2 points per game).
- The Blue Demons now lead the series, 9-3, and have won each of the last nine meetings.
Taking Advantage from Beyond the Arc: Since the start of the 2004-05 season, the club has knocked down 758 trifectas compared to just 469 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 341 of the last 342 games. The Missouri State game marked the 80th straight contest with at least one three-pointer.
In eight games this season, the Blue Demons have outscored their opponents by 63 points from three-point range (7.9 ppg). DePaul is 61-188 (.324) from behind the arc while opponents are a combined 40-141 (.284). The squad averages 7.6 three’s per game while the opposition makes 5.0 treys per contest. The trio of Missy Mitidiero, Deirdre Naughton and Allie Quigley have combined for 45 three’s this season - five more than the 40 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 Monday’s game at Northern Illinois:
- 82 consecutive games with a three-pointer
- 28 straight wins against opponents from Illinois, 41 of the last 42, and 49 wins in the last 51 games
- five straight NCAA Championship appearances
- 96 consecutive starts for Allie Quigley
- 26 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.
