Top 20 Teams Hook Up in San Diego
12/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
#12/13 DePaul vs. #19/19 Texas
Maggie Dixon Surf N Slam Classic
Friday, Dec. 28 | 8 p.m. PT
Jenny Craig Pavilion | San Diego, Calif.
CHICAGO - Holding the program’s best start at 10-0, the DePaul Blue Demons go for the program’s 600th victory on Friday night against #19/19 Texas in the first round of the Maggie Dixon Surf N Slam Classic. The four-team tourney is hosted by the University of San Diego with the Toreros taking on Appalachian State in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader. The 10 straight victories mark the seventh streak of at least 10 wins in 34 seasons of women’s basketball at DePaul University. The Blue Demons have also put together at least one 10-game winning streak in four of the last five campaigns.
DePaul, ranked No. 12 in this week’s AP poll and No. 13 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches top 25 meets the Longhorns who are ranked No. 19 in both polls. Texas is 9-2 through 11 games this season while DePaul enters the game at 10-0. Through games of Dec. 22, DePaul is just one of four teams nationally without a loss this season. Joining DePaul on the undefeated list is Arkansas (12-0), Connecticut (9-0) and Georgia (10-0).
The Blue Demons concluded a seven-game stretch at Northwestern on Dec. 20 that saw six opponents from the state of Illinois. DePaul knocked off all six Illinois teams this season to run its winning streak against state schools to 30 consecutive games.
Following this weekend’s action, the Blue Demons conclude the non-conference schedule on Jan. 2 against Tennessee before opening BIG EAST play on Jan. 6 against Pittsburgh.
599 Down, 1 to Go: DePaul’s next victory will be No. 600 in program history. In the 34th season of women’s basketball at DePaul University, the Blue Demons hold an all-time record of 599-352. Along with head coach Doug Bruno, Jean Lenti Ponsetto is the most associated name with DePaul women’s basketball. Ponsetto played on the first DePaul squad in 1974-75 before serving as an assistant coach (1978-81) and administrator at her alma mater. She moved into her current position of Athletics Director in July 2002. Ponsetto played for Bruno during the 1976-77 and 1977-78 seasons.
Noting the Blue Demons: The 90-58 win at Northern Illinois on Dec. 17 was the 950th game in program history... in the last six games, the Blue Demons have held opponents to 52.5 points per game while averaging 88.3 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 (137 games), the Blue Demons have held 65.7 percent of their opponents to less than 70 points (90-of-137)... in that span, DePaul is 81-9 (.900) 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 82-25 (.766)... in the last 37 home games against conference opponents, DePaul has posted 34 victories (.919 winning pct.)... over the last seven-plus seasons (230 games), DePaul has scored at least 80 points in 84 games... the Blue Demons hold an 80-4 (.952) record in those games... DePaul’s four straight games with at least 90 points is the longest 90-plus run since Jan.-Feb. 1997... DePaul defeated Houston, 101-73, on Jan. 31, UNC Charlotte, 91-76, on Feb. 2, South Florida, 91-66, on Feb. 7, and UAB, 100-60, on Feb. 9... in 34 seasons of play at DePaul, the women’s basketball program is 599-352 (.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 11 - Texas Longhorns: Texas enters the Maggie Dixon Surf N Slam Classic at 9-2... the Longhorns are on a seven-game winning streak following a 62-51 win at Arizona State on Dec. 20... Brittainey Raven leads four players in double-figures with 16.6 points per game... Kathleen Nash adds 10.3 points and a team-best 7.2 rebounds per contest... head coach Gail Goestenkors is in her first season at Texas.
The Series - Texas leads 1-0: Friday is just the second all-time meeting between the two programs... Texas claimed an 89-63 decision in Austin on Dec. 15, 1990... DePaul is 6-11 all-time against teams from the Big 12 Conference.
It Could Happen: A win would be No. 600 in program history... Allie Quigley needs six field goals to move into eighth all-time... she is making her 99th consecutive start on Friday and the 100th career start overall... a three-pointer would run DePaul’s streak to 85 games with at least one field goal from behind the arc.
Demon Doings: Notes following the 102-64 win at Northwestern on Dec. 20:
- The last time the Blue Demons scored 100 points was on January 16, 2005 in a 103-64 win over Charlotte... DePaul has now eclipsed the 100-point mark 32 times.
- The last time the Blue Demons scored 90 points in four consecutive games was during in Jan.-Feb. 1997... DePaul defeated Houston, 101-73, on Jan. 31, UNC Charlotte, 91-76, on Feb. 2, South Florida, 91-66, on Feb. 7, and UAB, 100-60, on Feb. 9.
- With five assists, Allie Quigley passed Jenni Dant (2001-05, 343 assists) and now has 345 career assists.
- With five rebounds, Caprice Smith surpassed the 600-rebound mark and now has 604 career boards.
- Quigley became the first player since Dec. 7, 2006 to score at least 30 points... she was the last Blue Demon to register 30 or more points with a career-high 37 against Rutgers last season (Dec. 7).
- For the third consecutive game, every active member of the DePaul roster scored at least one point.
- Northwestern now leads the series, 13-12, but the Blue Demons own a nine-game winning streak over the Wildcats.
Taking Advantage from Beyond the Arc: Since the start of the 2004-05 season, the club has knocked down 773 trifectas compared to just 475 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 343 of the last 344 games. The Missouri State game marked the 80th straight contest with at least one three-pointer.
In 10 games this season, the Blue Demons have outscored their opponents by 90 points from three-point range (9.0 ppg). DePaul is 76-229 (.332) from behind the arc while opponents are a combined 46-173 (.266). The squad averages 7.6 three’s per game while the opposition makes 4.6 treys per contest. The trio of Missy Mitidiero, Deirdre Naughton and Allie Quigley have combined for 53 three’s this season - seven more than the 46 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 Friday’s game against Texas:
- 84 consecutive games with a three-pointer
- 30 straight wins against opponents from Illinois, 43 of the last 44, and 51 wins in the last 53 games
- five straight NCAA Championship appearances
- 98 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.