Saturday, March 7
Wintrust Arena
12:00 P.M. CT
DePaul University
vs
Providence
Quest for a Three-Peat Begins on Saturday
3/6/2020 4:02:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
No. 1 seed DePaul faces Providence in BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinal
CHICAGO – Welcome to "One-And-Done" season otherwise known as the BIG EAST Conference Tournament.
DePaul coach Doug Bruno frequently uses that moniker to succinctly describe the pressurized environment of the NCAA postseason.
It's a new beginning for everyone, and no matter if you won the BIG EAST regular-season title as the Blue Demons did with a 15-3 record or finished closer to the bottom---all 10 teams will start out 0-0 and go from there.
No. 18/16 DePaul (25-5) will be shooting for a three-peat tournament title beginning with Saturday's noon quarterfinal against Providence (13-18) which knocked out Georgetown 49-46 in Friday's first-round game at Wintrust Arena
Alyssa Geary led the Friars with 15 points that helped overcome a 25-point performance by Georgetown's Taylor Barnes who went 6-of-12 from three-point land.
Last year featured an unforgettable ending to the BIG EAST title game. The Blue Demons were chasing pretty much the whole night as Marquette had the lead for nearly 32 minutes.
In the critical fourth quarter, Bruno & Co. could not cut the deficit below three with the Golden Eagles widening the margin each time it got that close.
Finally, with 1:39 left, Kelly Campbell hit a foul shot and Chante Stonewall followed with two more to draw within 72-71 as the boisterous Wintrust Arena crowd roared its approval. Natisha Hiedeman's free throw made it 73-71.
During a DePaul timeout with eight seconds left, Bruno called for a pinch-post. The ball, and in essence the game, would be in Stonewall's hands. The versatile junior had the option to take her defender off the dribble and create a shot or kick it out to three-point specialist Ashton Millender on the perimeter.
The look of determination written all over her face signaled there was only one option on her mind. Stonewall drove to the basket, caromed in a pretty bank shot and was fouled in the process. Her three-point play was the catharsis of a tension-filled fourth quarter in the Blue Demons' 74-73 victory as Wintrust experienced its first court storm.
Stonewall and Campbell are back as the multi-talented senior duo leads their team into Saturday's noon quarterfinal that will be televised on FS2.
As the No. 1 seed, DePaul will be the team to beat---as it has been the entire BIG EAST season. The team from Lincoln Park enters the South Loop with the second-highest scoring offense in the country fueled by fast-paced attack that is No. 2 in the nation in three-pointers and No. 4 in assists.
That is just half the story. Endeavoring to speed up the tempo on both ends of the court, the Blue Demons deploy a devilishly disruptive full-court press with the quick, long-armed Stonewall at the point of attack. Stonewall was voted BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year by opposing coaches.
It's a pressure tactic that has DePaul No. 2 in the nation in turnover margin, No. 4 in steals and No. 7 in forced turnovers.
Bruno's shoot-it-or-share-it offense revolves around four players in double figures and the glue of the team in point guard Campbell who is among the 10 best at her position in the country.
All-BIG EAST first-team selection Stonewall heads up the scoring parade averaging 17.3 points a game. Right behind her is sophomore and second-team, all-conference choice Sonya Morris at 16.2 points per game.
Morris' classmate Lexi Held is contributing nearly 15 points a game and combines with her fellow sophomore as the most dangerous three-point threats. Between them, Morris and Held have knocked down 137 shots from behind the arc.
Deja Church is averaging 10.7 points a game while All-BIG EAST second-teamer Campbell fills out a stat sheet putting up 8.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists while leading the nation in assist-turnover ratio and ranking No. 5 in assists.
The Blue Demons have never lost their BIG EAST tournament opener and are 15-2 in the BIG EAST postseason since the league was realigned in 2013-14.
Providence is led by Mary Baskerville who is averaging 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds a game. The Friars lost to DePaul 80-67 in January on their home court and fell 93-71 on Super Bowl Sunday at Wintrust Arena.
DePaul coach Doug Bruno frequently uses that moniker to succinctly describe the pressurized environment of the NCAA postseason.
It's a new beginning for everyone, and no matter if you won the BIG EAST regular-season title as the Blue Demons did with a 15-3 record or finished closer to the bottom---all 10 teams will start out 0-0 and go from there.
No. 18/16 DePaul (25-5) will be shooting for a three-peat tournament title beginning with Saturday's noon quarterfinal against Providence (13-18) which knocked out Georgetown 49-46 in Friday's first-round game at Wintrust Arena
Alyssa Geary led the Friars with 15 points that helped overcome a 25-point performance by Georgetown's Taylor Barnes who went 6-of-12 from three-point land.
Last year featured an unforgettable ending to the BIG EAST title game. The Blue Demons were chasing pretty much the whole night as Marquette had the lead for nearly 32 minutes.
In the critical fourth quarter, Bruno & Co. could not cut the deficit below three with the Golden Eagles widening the margin each time it got that close.
Finally, with 1:39 left, Kelly Campbell hit a foul shot and Chante Stonewall followed with two more to draw within 72-71 as the boisterous Wintrust Arena crowd roared its approval. Natisha Hiedeman's free throw made it 73-71.
During a DePaul timeout with eight seconds left, Bruno called for a pinch-post. The ball, and in essence the game, would be in Stonewall's hands. The versatile junior had the option to take her defender off the dribble and create a shot or kick it out to three-point specialist Ashton Millender on the perimeter.
The look of determination written all over her face signaled there was only one option on her mind. Stonewall drove to the basket, caromed in a pretty bank shot and was fouled in the process. Her three-point play was the catharsis of a tension-filled fourth quarter in the Blue Demons' 74-73 victory as Wintrust experienced its first court storm.
Stonewall and Campbell are back as the multi-talented senior duo leads their team into Saturday's noon quarterfinal that will be televised on FS2.
As the No. 1 seed, DePaul will be the team to beat---as it has been the entire BIG EAST season. The team from Lincoln Park enters the South Loop with the second-highest scoring offense in the country fueled by fast-paced attack that is No. 2 in the nation in three-pointers and No. 4 in assists.
That is just half the story. Endeavoring to speed up the tempo on both ends of the court, the Blue Demons deploy a devilishly disruptive full-court press with the quick, long-armed Stonewall at the point of attack. Stonewall was voted BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year by opposing coaches.
It's a pressure tactic that has DePaul No. 2 in the nation in turnover margin, No. 4 in steals and No. 7 in forced turnovers.
Bruno's shoot-it-or-share-it offense revolves around four players in double figures and the glue of the team in point guard Campbell who is among the 10 best at her position in the country.
All-BIG EAST first-team selection Stonewall heads up the scoring parade averaging 17.3 points a game. Right behind her is sophomore and second-team, all-conference choice Sonya Morris at 16.2 points per game.
Morris' classmate Lexi Held is contributing nearly 15 points a game and combines with her fellow sophomore as the most dangerous three-point threats. Between them, Morris and Held have knocked down 137 shots from behind the arc.
Deja Church is averaging 10.7 points a game while All-BIG EAST second-teamer Campbell fills out a stat sheet putting up 8.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists while leading the nation in assist-turnover ratio and ranking No. 5 in assists.
The Blue Demons have never lost their BIG EAST tournament opener and are 15-2 in the BIG EAST postseason since the league was realigned in 2013-14.
Providence is led by Mary Baskerville who is averaging 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds a game. The Friars lost to DePaul 80-67 in January on their home court and fell 93-71 on Super Bowl Sunday at Wintrust Arena.
Players Mentioned
Guard
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Guard
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Guard
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Guard
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Forward
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