DePaul and Loyola Tangle on Wednesday Morning
12/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - The No. 25 DePaul women's basketball team returns to the court and travels the short distance to Loyola for a Wednesday matinee showdown with Loyola. The battle for the Red Line bragging rights tips at 11 a.m. at Gentile Arena in Rodgers Park.
Wednesday's game can be heard live on DePaul's BlueTube with Dave Bernhard and Trish Babcock McGraw calling the action courtside. Live video is also available on Loyola's RamblerVision. In-game scoring and notes can be followed on Twitter at DePaulAthletics and DePaulWBBSID.
DePaul (6-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) is coming off a week-long break after falling in overtime, 94-93 to No. 5/5 Notre Dame on Dec. 10. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Blue Demons, while two of DePaul's three losses on the season were to teams ranked in the top five (Notre Dame and Texas A&M). Its third came in double overtime to Northwestern, who is receiving votes in both national polls.
Known for its high octane offense, DePaul is averaging 89.6 points per game which ranks third in Division I behind San Jose State (92.3) and Baylor (91.8). The Blue Demons have scored 80 or more points in eight of their nine previous games and scored a season-high 101 against Bradley on Nov. 18.
Paced by Brittany Hrynko's 19.2 points per game, four of DePaul's five starters are averaging double-figures. Megan Podkowa adds 16.0, Jessica January is averaging 14.3 and Megan Rogowski is sitting at 13.2 points per game.
With their balanced attack, the Blue Demons are averaging 18.6 assists per game which ranks ninth in Division I. Chanise Jenkins (4.9), Hrynko (4.8) and January (3.3) are all averaging more than three assists per game while Jenkins is coming off a 10 assist performance against the Irish last week.
Another staple of DePaul's game is its swarming defense which averages 15.1 steals per game which ranks second in Division I. Six players rank in the top 13 in the BIG EAST Conference for steals with Hrynko and January tied for second in the league with 3.0 steals per game. Jenkins (2.4), Podkowa (1.9), Rogowski (1.6) and Centrese McGee (1.6) round out DePaul in the conference's rankings for steals per game.
Loyola (2-6, 0-0 Missouri Valley) is searching for its first win in the month of December. The Ramblers have lost their last three games and are just 1-3 in games played at Gentile Arena.
The Ramblers are led by Taylor Johnson's 13.5 points per game while Simone Law is the only other Loyola player in double-figures with 12.0. Johnson is the lone Loyola player to have started and played in every game this season while Law has started and played in just three games.
DePaul and Loyola have met every season since 1999, while the series dates back to 1976. DePaul leads the all-time series 36-9 and has won the last 20 meetings. The Blue Demons are 16-6 in games played in Rodgers Park, while Doug Bruno boasts a 26-2 record against the Ramblers.
Wednesday's game is the first of three games in six days for DePaul. The Blue Demons, who are 1-0 in true road games this season, play at No. 2/2 Connecticut on Dec. 19 and welcome Hampton to McGrath-Phillips Arena on Dec. 22. DePaul's game at Connecticut will be played at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. And can be seen live on SNY and ESPN3. The Blue Demons final game before the Christmas holiday tips at 7 p.m. on Monday in Lincoln Park.
