DePaul University Athletics
Women's Hoops Host Illinois State
11/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - DePaul plays its first non-tournament game of the season Friday night against Illinois State. The Blue Demons opened the 2008-09 campaign with five straight games in a tournament format with three in the Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tourney at New Mexico followed by two games last weekend in the DePaul Invitational.
DePaul won the DePaul Invitational with victories over Southern and Hartford. Duke claimed third place with a consolation game win over Southern while the Blue Demons knocked off Hartford, 80-71, in the championship game. Deirdre Naughton was named MVP of the tournament while Keisha Hampton and Sam Quigley picked up All-Tournament honors.
The Blue Demons went 2-1 in the season-opening Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Classic hosted by New Mexico. DePaul knocked off Idaho State and Alcorn State in the first two days before dropping a 68-66 decision in the final seconds against the host Lobos. Hampton and Naughton were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The weekend concludes on the road in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sunday. The Blue Demons face No. 9/12 Tennessee at 3 p.m. ET. Following this weekend’s action, DePaul hosts Southern Illinois on Friday, Dec. 5 at Noon for the annual “Field Trip Day” at McGrath Arena. Elementary students from around Chicago will be on hand for the Friday matinee.
Noting the Blue Demons: DePaul is 613-365 (.627) all-time... the 2008-09 campaign is the 35th season of women’s basketball at DePaul University... the Blue Demons have put together at least one 10-game winning streak in four of the last five campaigns... with a record-setting 252 three-pointers in 2007-08, DePaul has made at least 200 three’s in a season in nine straight years... since the start of the 2003-04 season (164 games), the Blue Demons have held 62.8 percent of their opponents to less than 70 points (103-of-164)... in that span, DePaul is 89-14 (.864) when holding opponents to less than 70 points... DePaul has held four of its first five opponents to less than 70 this season... in the last three-plus seasons, the Blue Demons are 70-33 (.680)... in the last 45 home games against conference opponents, DePaul has posted 37 victories... over the last eight-plus seasons (257 games), DePaul has scored at least 80 points in 95 games... the Blue Demons hold a 90-5 (.947) record in those games... in the same span, DePaul is 41-1, including 39 straight wins, when scoring at least 90 points... with two games in each of its three BIG EAST Tournaments, DePaul is just one of three teams to play in multiple conference tourney games... Connecticut and Pittsburgh have also played at least two games in each of the last three BIG EAST Championships... the Blue Demons are one of 17 programs nationally with six straight NCAA Championship appearances.
Opponent 6 - Illinois State Redbirds: Illinois State is 2-2 following a pair of losses in the Preseason WNIT to Tulane and Cleveland State before wins over Robert Morris and Ball State... the Redbirds were picked as the unanimous favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll... Kristi Cirone leads the team with 17.8 points per game, 20 assists and 10 three-pointers... ISU went 26-7 last season and reached the first round of the NCAA Tournament... they return 10 letterwinners and four starters from that squad... head coach Robin Pingeton is in her fifth season at Illinois State.
The Series - DePaul leads 5-3: Friday is the ninth meeting between the two programs... DePaul holds a 5-3 advantage with wins in each of the last two seasons... DePaul held off Illinois State, 80-75, in the last meeting on Nov. 29, 2007 in Normal... the Blue Demons led at halftime, 41-33, but were outscored in the second half, 42-33... Natasha Williams had 18 points, six rebounds and Deirdre Naughton added 15 points, five steals.
Against the Missouri Valley Conference: DePaul is 32-10 all-time against programs from the Misouri Valley Conference... the Blue Demons also face Southern Illinois (Dec. 5) and Missouri State (Dec. 10) later this season.
Next - Tennessee (Nov. 30 in Knoxville, Tenn.): DePaul faces the two-time defending NCAA Champions in Knoxville on Sunday afternoon... the Lady Vols are 4-1 following a 83-56 win over Western Carolina on Nov. 25... Tennessee is ranked ninth in this week’s AP poll and No. 12 in the ESPN/USA Today top 25... the Lady Vols have won all 17 meetings between the two programs.
Against the State: DePaul has seen recent success against opponents from the state of Illinois. Over the last 45 games against Chicago State, Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Northwestern and Southern Illinois, the Blue Demons have posted 44 victories. The 2007-08 schedule saw DePaul knock off Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Illinois-Chicago, Loyola-Chicago, Chicago State, Northern Illinois and Northwestern.
DePaul has won 51 of the last 53 games against state opponents and currently holds a 30-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 53-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.
It Could Happen: A win would be the 31st in-a-row against an opponent from Illinois... Deirdre Naughton needs four points for 1,000 in her collegiate career... she totaled 419 points as a freshman at Wake Forest and has compiled 577 in a DePaul uniform... China Threatt needs six points for 400 career and three assists for 150.
Demon Doings: Notes following the 80-71 win against Hartford on Nov. 22:
- Deirdre Naughton’s 35 points were the most for her in a DePaul uniform... she set a career high of 37 as a freshman at Wake Forest in Feb. 2006.
- The win was the 70th for DePaul in the last three-plus seasons (70-33, .680).
- DePaul is now 90-5 (.947) in the last eight-plus seasons when scoring at least 80 points.
- Saturday was the first meeting between the two programs.
Home Cookin’: Through eight-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 a 95-17 (.848) record in the arena’s 112 games. DePaul’s .846 winning percentage to enter the season ranked ninth among all active arenas and 11th all-time.
Now in the 35th season of women’s basketball at DePaul University, the Blue Demons have an all-time home court record of 359-101 (.780). 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.
There have been 15 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 #5/4 Connecticut. The Blue Demons’ 11-game winning streak dating back to the 2006-07 season ended on Jan. 2 with the 102-68 loss to #3/3 Tennessee.
Over the last six-plus years, the team is 74-10 at home with four losses to teams ranked in the top five. DePaul lost in overtime to #2/2 Tennessee on Dec. 17, 2003, before the Connecticut loss in Jan. 2006. Tennessee, ranked third in both polls, served DePaul its fifth defeat last season on Jan. 2 before the 77-76 loss to #1/1 Connecticut on Mar. 1. 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 73 victories in the last 76 games over unranked opponents. West Virginia ended DePaul’s 58-game streak over unranked opponents with a 74-63 decision on Jan. 9, 2007 before Pittsburgh and Louisville handed the Blue Demons defeats last season. During the 58-game streak, there were 54 victories at McGrath Arena and four wins at the Allstate Arena.
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 Illinois State:
- 111 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
- six straight NCAA Championship appearances
- nine seasons in-a-row with at least 200 three-pointers
