Blue Demons Travel to Northwestern
12/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
#15/14 DePaul at Northwestern
Thursday, Dec. 20 | Noon
Welsh-Ryan Arena | Evanston, Ill.
CHICAGO - For just the second time in school history, the DePaul Blue Demons attempt to start the season at 10-0 with a Wednesday afternoon game at Northwestern. The nine straight wins to begin the 2007-08 campaign matches the undefeated start through nine games in 1985-86. A victory over the Wildcats would also clinch the seventh streak of at least 10 wins in 34 seasons of women’s basketball at DePaul University. It would also register the fourth time in five seasons that the Blue Demons have ran off at least 10 victories at one point in a season.
DePaul, ranked No. 15 in this week’s AP poll and No. 14 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches top 25, tangles with the Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern stands at 4-7 in through 11 games this season while DePaul enters the game at 9-0. Through games of Dec. 18, DePaul is just one of six teams nationally without a loss this season. Joining DePaul on the undefeated list is Arkansas (12-0), Connecticut (8-0), Georgia (10-0), and Tennessee (9-0).
The Northwestern game finishes a seven-game stretch with six opponents from the state of Illinois. DePaul enters the Northwestern game with a 29-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. 19/20 Texas on Dec. 28 and host San Diego or Appalachian State on Dec. 30.
Noting the Blue Demons: Monday’s game at Northern Illinois was No. 950 in program history... in the last five games, the Blue Demons have held opponents to 50.2 points per game while averaging 85.6 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 (136 games), the Blue Demons have held 65.4 percent of their opponents to less than 70 points (89-of-136)... in that span, DePaul is 80-9 (.899) 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 81-25 (.764)... 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 (91 games)... over the last seven-plus seasons (229 games), DePaul has scored at least 80 points in 83 games... the Blue Demons hold a 79-4 (.952) record in those games... DePaul’s three straight games with at least 90 points is the first 90-plus run since Nov. 2004... DePaul posted a 118-49 win over Northwestern on Nov. 27, a 97-54 win against Illinois-Chicago on Nov. 30 and a 99-54 victory against Loyola-Chicago on Dec 6... in 34 seasons of play at DePaul, the women’s basketball program is 598-352 (.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 10 - Northwestern Wildcats: Northwestern enters Thursday’s game at 4-7... the Wildcats are 3-3 in their last six games including a 65-63 win at Marquette on Dec. 17... DePaul marks the third straight BIG EAST opponent for Northwestern with a 66-51 loss to Seton Hall on Dec. 6... Amy Jaeschke leads the team with 20.0 points per game, but has played in just two games... she returned to the lineup on Monday at Marquette... Ellen Jaeschke adds 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game... head coach Beth Combs is in her fourth season at Northwestern... she holds a record of 23-76 with the Wildcats.
The Series - Northwestern leads 13-11: Thursday is the 25th all-time meeting between the two programs... DePaul has won each of the last eight meetings... Northwestern opened the series with nine straight victories... a year ago at McGrath Arena, DePaul posted a 74-66 victory... Caprice Smith and China Threatt scored 17 points each to lead the Blue Demons... against the Big Ten, DePaul is 33-49 all-time... the Blue Demons have claimed wins in eight of the last nine games against Big Ten programs.
It Could Happen: A win would set the best start in school history after 10 games... the 1985-96 squad started the season at 9-0 before a 90-67 loss at Houston on Jan. 7, 1986... a win would extend the 29-game winning streak against Illinois opponents... Allie Quigley needs four assists to pass Jenni Dant (2001-05, 343 assists) for fifth all-time... Caprice Smith needs one rebound for 600 career boards.
Against the State: DePaul has seen recent success against opponents from the state of Illinois. Over the last 44 games against Chicago State, Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Northwestern and Southern Illinois, the Blue Demons have posted 43 victories. The Blue Demons defeated Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Loyola-Chicago and Chicago State last season. In the first nine games of the 2007-08 schedule, DePaul has knocked off Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Illinois-Chicago, Loyola-Chicago, Chicago State and Northern Illinois.
DePaul has won 50 of the last 52 games against state opponents and currently holds a 29-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 52-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 90-58 win at Northern Illinois on Dec. 17:
- DePaul improves to 9-0 for just the second time in school history... 9-0 is the best start in program history matching the 1985-86 team.
- With five assists Allie Quigley passed Tammy Williams (1991-93, 337 assists) for sixth all-time with 340 assists... Quigley needs four assists to pass Jenni Dant (2001-05, 343) for fifth all-time.
- DePaul has won 29 in-a-row over teams from Illinois... the Blue Demons have also won 43 of the last 44 and 50 of the last 52 against Illinois programs.
- The Blue Demons scored 90 or more points in three straight games for the first time since Nov. 2004... DePaul posted a 118-49 win over Northwestern on Nov. 27, a 97-54 win versus Illinois-Chicago on Nov. 30 and a 99-54 victory against Loyola-Chicago on Dec 6.
- DePaul has outscored its last five opponents by 177 points (35.4 points per game).
- The Blue Demons now lead the series, 29-7, and have won each of the last 14 meetings.
Setting the Standard in the Classroom and on the Court: With back-to-back appearances in the WBCA Academic Top 25 and berths in the last two NCAA Championship, the DePaul women’s basketball team is the only program in the country to claim that distinction. The Blue Demons finished 25th in the WBCA Academic Top 25 following last season after garnering the 11th spot after the 2005-06 campaign. In 2005-06, the Blue Demons also accumulated a team GPA of 3.361 and reached the NCAA Sweet 16 followed by a team GPA of 3.294 last season and NCAA First Round appearance. The No. 11 slot in 2006 was the highest in program history, surpassing a No. 13 ranking for the 2000-01 season and No. 20 spot following the 1998-99 campaign.
Taking Advantage from Beyond the Arc: Since the start of the 2004-05 season, the club has knocked down 764 trifectas compared to just 472 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 342 of the last 343 games. The Missouri State game marked the 80th straight contest with at least one three-pointer.
In nine games this season, the Blue Demons have outscored their opponents by 72 points from three-point range (8.0 ppg). DePaul is 67-204 (.328) from behind the arc while opponents are a combined 43-159 (.270). The squad averages 7.4 three’s per game while the opposition makes 4.8 treys per contest. The trio of Missy Mitidiero, Deirdre Naughton and Allie Quigley have combined for 49 three’s this season - six more than the 43 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 Thursday’s game at Northwestern:
- 83 consecutive games with a three-pointer
- 29 straight wins against opponents from Illinois, 42 of the last 43, and 50 wins in the last 52 games
- five straight NCAA Championship appearances
- 97 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.