Saturday, January 16
Washington, D.C.
1:00 P.M. CT
DePaul University
at
Georgetown
Rejuvenated No. 19/22 DePaul Heads to Our Nation's Capital
1/15/2021 1:12:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Blue Demons take on Georgetown at 1 p.m. Saturday on BEDN/FloSports
BEDN/FloSports
The BIG EAST Conference announced a one-year deal with leading sports streaming service, FloSports, to become the digital home of BIG EAST women's basketball. The agreement provides a platform for all women's basketball games that stream on the BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN) presented by SoFi.
How to Watch
TV: Download the FloSports TV app on Roku, Apple TV 4, and Amazon Fire TV
Mobile: Download the FloSports iOS and Android apps
Web: Bookmark FloHoops.com in your favorite browser
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Basketball coaches dread a long layoff.
They worry about losing a team's crispness and sense of timing. How can you maintain a competitive edge without any games?
If you're a perennial winning program like No. 19/22 DePaul, will a mild form of complacency infiltrate the program?
Those concerns and more were on the mind of Blue Demon coach Doug Bruno heading into last Wednesday's game against BIG EAST rival St. John's. How long would it take for his well-honed, sharply executing players to shake off the rust of a practice-only existence since Jan. 4?
Bruno may have been pleasantly surprised when his team came full gallop out of the starting gate and raced to a 101-84 victory at Wintrust Arena.
There was all kinds of pent-up energy and adrenaline just dying to be unleashed. Bruno's four-guard front kept the throttle on full-tilt and never looked back.
It was as if they were playing with the wind at their backs.
The 6-foot, 1-inch Jorie Allen had a career night with collegiate highs in points and rebounds while displaying prowess both inside and at the high post on the give-and-go.
What happened? Perhaps the Blue Demons took full advantage of the unexpected break due to postponements from the COVID-19 issues of other basketball programs.
And yet, it could have run deeper than allowing the body to rest and recuperate. This has been a time unlike any other for student-athletes dealing with the mental stress and uncertainly of trying to play ball during a global pandemic.
As DePaul (7-3, 4-1 BIG EAST) heads into Saturday's BIG EAST matchup at Georgetown that will be shown on the BIG EAST Digital Network/FloSports, you wonder if taking a mental break during the nine-day layoff paid dividends in unexpected ways.
Whatever the case may be, these rejuvenated Blue Demons with their minds in a good place will bring their arsenal of up-tempo pace, long-distance shooting and high-pressure defense to Our Nation's Capital for their second game in the last 12 days.
They will endeavor to force the action with a full-court press that is producing an average of 23 turnovers per game. Georgetown (1-2, 1-2) is turning the ball over 21 times a game.
Bruno & Co. look to offset the Hoyas' chief asset of rebounding power with their explosive four-guard attack force of Sonya Morris (17.8 points a game), Lexi Held (15.3 points), Dee Bekelja (15.1 points) and Deja Church (13.4). When Bruno opts for an all-guard lineup, he brings in talented freshman Darrione Rogers who is averaging nearly 12 points a game.
Saturday would be an opportune time for 6-2 Kiara Dallmann to become reacquainted with the rhythm and flow of a BIG EAST game after missing the first eight games with an ankle injury. Her length and presence inside will be key factors this season.
Georgetown has only played three games, going 1-2 in the BIG EAST after dealing with postponements and cancellations. The Hoyas' first game was a 72-54 loss to DePaul at Wintrust Arena on Dec. 19---nearly a month after most teams had begun their season. Bekelja paced the Blue Demons that day with her first career double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds.
The Hoyas are led by guards Yasmin Ott (11 points a game) and Kelsey Ransom (10.3). Their forte is rebounding behind 6-3 Graceann Bennett (8.7 rebounds a game) and the 6-2 duo of Jillian Archer and Taylor Baur at 7.3 a game.
Those of you tuning into the BIG EAST Digital Network---don't go anywhere at halftime. The BEDN production will feature a colorful feature on Sonya Morris during the break.
The BIG EAST Conference announced a one-year deal with leading sports streaming service, FloSports, to become the digital home of BIG EAST women's basketball. The agreement provides a platform for all women's basketball games that stream on the BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN) presented by SoFi.
How to Watch
TV: Download the FloSports TV app on Roku, Apple TV 4, and Amazon Fire TV
Mobile: Download the FloSports iOS and Android apps
Web: Bookmark FloHoops.com in your favorite browser
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Basketball coaches dread a long layoff.
They worry about losing a team's crispness and sense of timing. How can you maintain a competitive edge without any games?
If you're a perennial winning program like No. 19/22 DePaul, will a mild form of complacency infiltrate the program?
Those concerns and more were on the mind of Blue Demon coach Doug Bruno heading into last Wednesday's game against BIG EAST rival St. John's. How long would it take for his well-honed, sharply executing players to shake off the rust of a practice-only existence since Jan. 4?
Bruno may have been pleasantly surprised when his team came full gallop out of the starting gate and raced to a 101-84 victory at Wintrust Arena.
There was all kinds of pent-up energy and adrenaline just dying to be unleashed. Bruno's four-guard front kept the throttle on full-tilt and never looked back.
It was as if they were playing with the wind at their backs.
The 6-foot, 1-inch Jorie Allen had a career night with collegiate highs in points and rebounds while displaying prowess both inside and at the high post on the give-and-go.
What happened? Perhaps the Blue Demons took full advantage of the unexpected break due to postponements from the COVID-19 issues of other basketball programs.
And yet, it could have run deeper than allowing the body to rest and recuperate. This has been a time unlike any other for student-athletes dealing with the mental stress and uncertainly of trying to play ball during a global pandemic.
As DePaul (7-3, 4-1 BIG EAST) heads into Saturday's BIG EAST matchup at Georgetown that will be shown on the BIG EAST Digital Network/FloSports, you wonder if taking a mental break during the nine-day layoff paid dividends in unexpected ways.
Whatever the case may be, these rejuvenated Blue Demons with their minds in a good place will bring their arsenal of up-tempo pace, long-distance shooting and high-pressure defense to Our Nation's Capital for their second game in the last 12 days.
They will endeavor to force the action with a full-court press that is producing an average of 23 turnovers per game. Georgetown (1-2, 1-2) is turning the ball over 21 times a game.
Bruno & Co. look to offset the Hoyas' chief asset of rebounding power with their explosive four-guard attack force of Sonya Morris (17.8 points a game), Lexi Held (15.3 points), Dee Bekelja (15.1 points) and Deja Church (13.4). When Bruno opts for an all-guard lineup, he brings in talented freshman Darrione Rogers who is averaging nearly 12 points a game.
Saturday would be an opportune time for 6-2 Kiara Dallmann to become reacquainted with the rhythm and flow of a BIG EAST game after missing the first eight games with an ankle injury. Her length and presence inside will be key factors this season.
Georgetown has only played three games, going 1-2 in the BIG EAST after dealing with postponements and cancellations. The Hoyas' first game was a 72-54 loss to DePaul at Wintrust Arena on Dec. 19---nearly a month after most teams had begun their season. Bekelja paced the Blue Demons that day with her first career double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds.
The Hoyas are led by guards Yasmin Ott (11 points a game) and Kelsey Ransom (10.3). Their forte is rebounding behind 6-3 Graceann Bennett (8.7 rebounds a game) and the 6-2 duo of Jillian Archer and Taylor Baur at 7.3 a game.
Those of you tuning into the BIG EAST Digital Network---don't go anywhere at halftime. The BEDN production will feature a colorful feature on Sonya Morris during the break.
Players Mentioned
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