DePaul University Athletics
No. 18/17 DePaul Faces Western Kentucky in Gulf Coast Showcase
11/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
ESTERO, Fla. ââ'¬" No. 18/17 DePaul is heading towards its first significant challenge of the season as one of four nationally ranked teams competing in the Gulf Coast Showcase at Germain Arena.
The Blue Demons are off to a 3-0 start and face Western Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. Friday in their Showcase opener. Western Kentucky is 2-1 and receiving votes in the national rankings.
DePaul coach Doug Bruno is well aware of the high-powered field and the early-season test awaiting his team. Bruno perennially arranges for one of the nation's toughest nonconference schedules.
"On a national level, when people see this Showcase field, they think of Baylor, Ohio State and Syracuse who are among the top teams in the country," Bruno said. "What really makes this tournament are teams like Western Kentucky, George Washington and Florida Gulf Coast who are among the toughest unranked teams in the country."
The Hilltoppers certainly fit the profile of high-quality DePaul opponents, opening the season with a 96-32 triumph over Alabama A&M before falling to Texas-Arlington 71-68. Western Kentucky rebounded with an 85-74 win over an Indiana team picked to finish third in the Big Ten.
Tashia Brown heads up the Hilltopper attack averaging 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds a game. Right behind her are Ivy Brown (16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds) and Kendall Noble (10.7 points, 8.7 rebounds). Western Kentucky is shooting 39 percent from behind the arc led by Brown who has converted 5-of-8 three-pointers.
"The four ranked teams along with Western Kentucky, George Washington and Florida Gulf Coast will all make the NCAA tournament," Bruno said. "This Showcase is like a mini-NCAA tournament---as competitive as an NCAA regional."
The pre-tournament favorite is No. 5/6 Baylor who is 4-1 with the loss coming to No. 2/2 Connecticut by 11 points. The Bears' average margin of victory this season is 59 points, and they feature 6-foot, 7-inch Kalani Brown (16.8 points, 11.3 rebounds per game), Alexis Jones (15 points), Nina Davis (12 points), 6-2 Alexis Prince (10.5 points a game) and 6-4 Beatrice Mompremier averaging nine rebounds.
No. 8/8 Ohio State (3-1) is led by first-team All-American guard Kelsey Mitchell who enters the Showcase averaging 24.3 points per game and is shooting 40 percent from three-point range. Backing her up are Sienna Calhoun (14 points), 6-3 Stephanie Mavunga (12.7 points, 11 rebounds) and 6-2 Shayla Cooper (12 points). The Buckeyes' average margin of victory is 32 points with the lone loss coming to No. 3/3 South Carolina by 12.
No. 11/18 Syracuse (3-1) will be looking to bounce back from its first setback of the season, 62-61 at Drexel on Monday night. The Orange won their first three games by an average of nearly 34 points behind Alexis Peterson (19.3 points, seven assists), Brittney Sykes (17.3 points, eight rebounds), 6-4 Briana Day (13.3 points, nine rebounds) and Isabella Slim (10.5 points).
"Our team is a work in progress," Bruno said about his program that is led by Jessica January's 21.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and nearly seven assists per game while combining with Ashton Millender to shoot 47.4 percent from three-point range. "We were much better against Northwestern last Saturday, but within that game (89-66), there were still some good and bad possessions on both sides of the ball and we're still adjusting to the loss of Mart'e Grays.
"Jess January has really been steady and Ashton Millender (17.7 points a game) has been consistent. Jacqui Grant was really good in the second half against Northwestern and Brooke Schulte is playing with an edge. Tanita Allen is working her way back from an injury while Kelly Campbell and Claire McMahon have given us a good lift off the bench."
Taking on this high-powered Showcase field is like an investment in the future.
"Whenever you play strong competition, the ultimate goal is to win, solidify your NCAA resume and have you better prepared for January, February and March," Bruno said. "Come out of this 3-0 and you're scratching at a top 10 ranking.
"The upside is, even with some tough losses, you are still going to grow your team."
