No. 23/18 DePaul Hosts Illinois State on Saturday
12/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Illinois State at No. 23/18 DePaul
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015
7 p.m. | McGrath-Phillips Arena
BlueTube: Dave Bernhard & Trish Babcock McGraw
GameTracker
Game Notes: DePaul | Illinois State
CHICAGO - The No. 23/18 DePaul women's basketball team is back in action at 7 p.m. on Saturday when it welcomes Illinois State for an intrastate rivalry game at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
The Blue Demons' eighth game of the season will be carried on BlueTube with Dave Bernhard and Trish Babcock-McGraw on the call. GameTracker is also available while in-game scoring and updates can be followed on Twitter -- @DePaulAthletics and @DePaulWBBSID.
DePaul (5-2) is coming off an 86-70 loss to No. 1/1 Connecticut on Dec. 3. The Blue Demons hung with the Huskies throughout the game and trailed by just five points with 8:12 to play. Paced by Jessica January's 18 points, DePaul played fearless against a team that came to Chicago boasting a 40-point margin of victory this season.
In an exciting up-and-down game that saw 10 lead changes and three ties, the DePaul/UConn game was the most-watched BIG EAST Conference regular season contest in FS1 history.
Heading into Saturday's game, the Blue Demons rank in the top 25 in Division I in 13 of the 32 categories the NCAA ranks daily. More impressive is the Blue Demons rank in the top 10 in in nine of those categories while leading the nation in total number of assists (154). They are second in assists per game with 22.0. Troy leads the nations in assists per game with 22.2 per game.
With DePaul distributing the ball so efficiently, the Blue Demons have six players averaging nine or more points a game with Megan Podkowa (14.1), Jessica January (13.9) and Chanise Jenkins (11.6) all putting up double-figures.
Illinois State (1-5) has dropped its last four games and are 0-2 in road games this season. The Redbirds lone win of the season came against Murray State on Nov. 18. Shakella Fowler leads ISU with 12.5 points and 3.5 assists per game.
DePaul and ISU are meeting for the 15th time and have met in each of the previous six seasons. DePaul leads the all-time series 11-3 and have be triumph in the last eight contests. The Blue Demons boast a 5-0 in games played in Chicago and are 4-0 in series contests at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
Following Saturday's game, the Blue Demons hit the road for contests as No. 3/3 Notre Dame (Dec. 9), No. 12/11 Texas A&M (Dec. 12), a very tough South Dakota State (Dec. 15) team and No. 15/16 Northwestern on Dec. 19.
The Blue Demons return to Lincoln Park on Dec. 21 to host City of Chicago rival Loyola in their final tune-up before BIG EAST Conference play begins on Dec. 29 against Marquette.
Movin' On Up
DePaul is in both the Associated Press and Coaches Poll for the first time this season… the Blue Demons debuted in the AP Poll on Dec. 1 at No. 23 and are ranked No. 18 - its highest of the season - in the Coaches' Poll… DePaul has been ranked in all three of the Coaches' Polls this season and had been receiving votes in each of the AP Polls prior to entering the top 25.
Lots of Eyes
With a sold out crowd at McGrath-Phillips Arena for the DePaul/UConn game on Dec. 2, 2015 a record-number of fans watched the game on FS1… the game was the most-watched regular-season BIG EAST Conference women's basketball game in the history of the network.
Grant & Coleman Eligible
Jacqui Grant and Amarah Coleman will be eligible to play immediately it was announced on Wednesday, Nov. 25… both transferred from Illinois prior to the start of the 2015-16 season and were granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA based upon the appeal DePaul submitted on their behalf… the pair made their presence felt immediately - Coleman scored 15 and Grant added 14 points and five rebounds in DePaul's 96-46 win over Colgate on Nov. 27.
22 Days of Fun
When DePaul played at No. 5/4 Baylor (Nov. 22-Dec. 19) it marked the first of five ranked teams the Blue Demons will play over a span of 22 days… while South Dakota State (Dec. 15) and Illinois State (Dec. 5) who are both not ranked, are tough opponents… three of the five ranked team and South Dakota State, the Blue Demons will face on the road -- at No. 3/3 Notre Dame (Dec. 9), No. 12/11 Texas A&M (Dec. 12) and No. 15/16 Northwestern (Dec. 19)… hosted No. 1/1 Connecticut on Dec. 2.
