DePaul University Athletics
Friday, November 12
Chicago, Ill.
7:00 P.M. CT
DePaul University
vs
Loyola Chicago
Blue Demons Welcome Red Line Rival Loyola on Friday
11/11/2021 4:02:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Maintaining momentum is the focus after smashing debut
CHICAGO – If redemption was a driving force in the Blue Demons' season opener last Tuesday, then the theme of game two on Friday is validation.
After a disappointing finish to the 2020-21 season, coach Doug Bruno and his players were focused on flipping that script back to the 17 previous years when the program had advanced to the NCAA tournament.
DePaul opened the season with an overwhelming 114-71 victory over Texas Southern in which Aneesah Morrow became the first player in Bruno's 36-year career to score 31 points in her freshman debut. She added nine rebounds and four steals.
The talented rookie and her teammates also set a single-game program record shooting an all-time best 67.6 percent from the field as Morrow, Deja Church (21 points, five assists) and Dee Bekelja (17 points, five rebounds, four assists) combined to knock down 28-of-34 shots (82.4 percent).
When the Blue Demons welcome "Red Line Rival" Loyola to Wintrust Arena for a 7 p.m. tip that will be shown on FloSports, you might say Bruno & Co. will be in "prove-it mode."
Was the uncharacteristic 74 points in the paint a one-off or is Bruno's emphasis on cutting to the basket for layups (and converting them) going to be more common this season?
The coach was pleased an offense that regularly features a multitude of three-point attempts only launched 12 on Tuesday with seven finding their mark.
Texas Southern runs a fast-paced, up-tempo attack which the Blue Demons welcomed. There will be a lot more half-court sets on Friday as the visiting Ramblers endeavor to slow their roll.
Bruno is expected to deploy a four-guard lineup featuring Preseason All-BIG EAST selections Sonya Morris and Lexi Held, Deja Church and Darrione Rogers with the very mobile 6-foot, 1-inch Morrow protecting the paint. Also watch for a pressure defense that forced 25 turnovers against Texas Southern.
The Lincoln Park vs. Rogers Park rivalry of schools separated by less than seven miles is always intense. DePaul has won nine of the last 10 meetings with the setback coming in 2015 by an 88-75 score in McGrath-Phillips Arena.
The last two matchups have been competitive with the Bruno's program prevailing 83-76 in 2019 at Gentile Arena and 76-67 a year later at Wintrust.
Loyola (1-0) won its season opener 63-40 over Detroit Mercy last Tuesday at home. It was an 11-point game after three quarters, and the Ramblers outscored Detroit 23-11 in the final 10 minutes.
Janae Gonzales led the way with 14 points off the bench and shot 4-of-8 from three-point range. The 6-1 All-MVC forward Allison Day finished with 11 points and eight rebounds while MVC Freshman of the Year Maya Chandler added 10 points.
After a disappointing finish to the 2020-21 season, coach Doug Bruno and his players were focused on flipping that script back to the 17 previous years when the program had advanced to the NCAA tournament.
DePaul opened the season with an overwhelming 114-71 victory over Texas Southern in which Aneesah Morrow became the first player in Bruno's 36-year career to score 31 points in her freshman debut. She added nine rebounds and four steals.
The talented rookie and her teammates also set a single-game program record shooting an all-time best 67.6 percent from the field as Morrow, Deja Church (21 points, five assists) and Dee Bekelja (17 points, five rebounds, four assists) combined to knock down 28-of-34 shots (82.4 percent).
When the Blue Demons welcome "Red Line Rival" Loyola to Wintrust Arena for a 7 p.m. tip that will be shown on FloSports, you might say Bruno & Co. will be in "prove-it mode."
Was the uncharacteristic 74 points in the paint a one-off or is Bruno's emphasis on cutting to the basket for layups (and converting them) going to be more common this season?
The coach was pleased an offense that regularly features a multitude of three-point attempts only launched 12 on Tuesday with seven finding their mark.
Texas Southern runs a fast-paced, up-tempo attack which the Blue Demons welcomed. There will be a lot more half-court sets on Friday as the visiting Ramblers endeavor to slow their roll.
Bruno is expected to deploy a four-guard lineup featuring Preseason All-BIG EAST selections Sonya Morris and Lexi Held, Deja Church and Darrione Rogers with the very mobile 6-foot, 1-inch Morrow protecting the paint. Also watch for a pressure defense that forced 25 turnovers against Texas Southern.
The Lincoln Park vs. Rogers Park rivalry of schools separated by less than seven miles is always intense. DePaul has won nine of the last 10 meetings with the setback coming in 2015 by an 88-75 score in McGrath-Phillips Arena.
The last two matchups have been competitive with the Bruno's program prevailing 83-76 in 2019 at Gentile Arena and 76-67 a year later at Wintrust.
Loyola (1-0) won its season opener 63-40 over Detroit Mercy last Tuesday at home. It was an 11-point game after three quarters, and the Ramblers outscored Detroit 23-11 in the final 10 minutes.
Janae Gonzales led the way with 14 points off the bench and shot 4-of-8 from three-point range. The 6-1 All-MVC forward Allison Day finished with 11 points and eight rebounds while MVC Freshman of the Year Maya Chandler added 10 points.
Players Mentioned
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