DePaul University Athletics
Jennifer Juergens Added to Women's Basketball Roster
9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO With the start of classes this month for the 2008-09 academic year, DePaul women's basketball coach Doug Bruno announced that Jennifer Juergens has joined the women’s basketball program. Juergens, a transfer from Loyola-Chicago that played softball at Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) during the 2007-08 academic year, must sit out this season under NCAA transfer guidelines. She will have two seasons of eligibility starting with the 2009-10 campaign.
“Every Division I recruit is unique and Jen Juergens’ journey to DePaul and the BIG EAST is no exception,” said Bruno. “Jen is your classic example of a young athlete that has an incredible level of work ethic and competitiveness. Through hard work and a military-like training regimen, Jen Juergens has vastly improved her game. If she were coming out of high school today she would be a very highly recruited player.”
Juergens played the 2006-07 season at Loyola-Chicago and saw action in 28 games for the Ramblers. She started 26 times and averaged 6.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Juergens was second on the team in rebounding and led the squad with 52 offensive boards. She scored a season-high 15 points against Valparaiso and grabbed a season-best 11 rebounds against Youngstown State. The Bourbonnais, Ill., native played softball during the 2007-08 academic year at Olivet Nazarene University. As an outfielder, she played in 48 games and hit .321 with four doubles and 19 RBI.
The prep standout at Bishop McNamara High School averaged 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game as a senior. She was a three-time Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-State selection and a McDonald’s All-America nominee. She finished her career with a school-record 2,093 points and set a single-game mark with 40 points against Hillcrest.
“Bishop McNamara coach, Jeff Bennett, is an excellent teacher so Jen was well schooled on basketball fundamentals from a young age,” said Bruno. “Her maturity and late blooming development remind me of a former local product named Jeff Hornacek. No one had time for Jeff Hornacek coming out of high school and all Jeff did is develop himself into a 15-year NBA player. Jen has already demonstrated her abilities in our first week of skill workouts. Our coaching staff and entire team are all very excited about Jen’s decision to enroll at DePaul.”
The Blue Demons return eight players from last season and welcome transfer Rachel Pierson that sat out the 2007-08 campaign and a five-member freshmen class. DePaul opens the season at the Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tourney in Albuquerque, N.M., Nov. 15-17 before hosting the DePaul Invitational, Nov. 21-22.
