DePaul University Athletics

DePaul Confronts No. 23/17 Texas A&M on Monday Night
11/14/2021 5:01:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
First road test comes against one of the nation's best
CHICAGO – If indeed redemption is the theme of the 2021-22 women's basketball program, then Monday night is another opportunity to rectify one of the most painful moments in recent memory.
Coach Doug Bruno and his Blue Demons (2-0) will enter Reed Arena in College Station, Texas fresh off winning their first two games by an average of 38.5 points.
No. 23/17 Texas A&M (2-0) presents their first imposing challenge of the season as the Aggies beat Texas A&M Corpus Christi 87-54 in their opener and followed up with a 92-32 rout of Southern University. Monday's game tipping at 7 p.m. can be seen on SEC Network+.
Graduate student Dee Bekelja is the lone remaining player who was wearing blue the last time DePaul played at Reed Arena.
That would be the 2018 NCAA Second Round showdown which saw Bruno & Co. leading by 17 points early in the third quarter.
Right about that time, Texas A&M freshman Chennedy Carter began heating up. Her 32 points in the second half punctuated by the winning step-back three-pointer with 3.2 seconds left gave the Aggies an 80-79 win.
It was the largest NCAA Second Round comeback ever at that time as Carter hit five shots from behind the arc in the fourth quarter en route to 19 points in the final 10 minutes.
An upset of the nationally ranked Aggies might help exorcise some of the demons from that searing March Madness moment.
Bruno's guard-oriented attack is well suited to match up against venerable A&M coach Gary Blair's SEC contender whose five top scorers are all guards.
Leading scorer Jordan Nixon is a transfer from Notre Dame averaging 15 points a game. Kayla Wells is at 14.5 and Minnesota transfer Destiny Pitts is scoring 11.5 a game. Sahara Jones and St. John's transfer Qadashah Hoppie are contributing 8.5 points a game.
The Aggies have knocked down 20 three-pointers in 40 attempts, and those five guards account for 18 of them. They are outscoring opponents by an average of 46.5 points.
Bruno can match that firepower with his explosive backcourt of Deja Church (19.5 points per game), All-BIG EAST guard Sonya Morris (14.5 points a game), Darrione Rogers (12 points), All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention Dee Bekelja (10 points) and All-BIG EAST playmaker Lexi Held (9.5 points, 7.5 assists).
The 6-foot, 1-inch freshman Aneesah Morrow heads up the frontcourt averaging team bests of 21 points and nine rebounds. Backing her up are 6-1 Jorie Allen and 6-3 freshman Kaitlyn Ammons.
Texas A&M rotates four forwards who all stand 6-3. Rebounding numbers are remarkably similar with the Aggies grabbing 92 and DePaul 89.
Watch for a wide-open and totally entertaining showdown on Monday after the two teams put on quite an offensive performance last year in Wintrust Arena with the visitors from the Lone Star State prevailing 93-91.
Coach Doug Bruno and his Blue Demons (2-0) will enter Reed Arena in College Station, Texas fresh off winning their first two games by an average of 38.5 points.
No. 23/17 Texas A&M (2-0) presents their first imposing challenge of the season as the Aggies beat Texas A&M Corpus Christi 87-54 in their opener and followed up with a 92-32 rout of Southern University. Monday's game tipping at 7 p.m. can be seen on SEC Network+.
Graduate student Dee Bekelja is the lone remaining player who was wearing blue the last time DePaul played at Reed Arena.
That would be the 2018 NCAA Second Round showdown which saw Bruno & Co. leading by 17 points early in the third quarter.
Right about that time, Texas A&M freshman Chennedy Carter began heating up. Her 32 points in the second half punctuated by the winning step-back three-pointer with 3.2 seconds left gave the Aggies an 80-79 win.
It was the largest NCAA Second Round comeback ever at that time as Carter hit five shots from behind the arc in the fourth quarter en route to 19 points in the final 10 minutes.
An upset of the nationally ranked Aggies might help exorcise some of the demons from that searing March Madness moment.
Bruno's guard-oriented attack is well suited to match up against venerable A&M coach Gary Blair's SEC contender whose five top scorers are all guards.
Leading scorer Jordan Nixon is a transfer from Notre Dame averaging 15 points a game. Kayla Wells is at 14.5 and Minnesota transfer Destiny Pitts is scoring 11.5 a game. Sahara Jones and St. John's transfer Qadashah Hoppie are contributing 8.5 points a game.
The Aggies have knocked down 20 three-pointers in 40 attempts, and those five guards account for 18 of them. They are outscoring opponents by an average of 46.5 points.
Bruno can match that firepower with his explosive backcourt of Deja Church (19.5 points per game), All-BIG EAST guard Sonya Morris (14.5 points a game), Darrione Rogers (12 points), All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention Dee Bekelja (10 points) and All-BIG EAST playmaker Lexi Held (9.5 points, 7.5 assists).
The 6-foot, 1-inch freshman Aneesah Morrow heads up the frontcourt averaging team bests of 21 points and nine rebounds. Backing her up are 6-1 Jorie Allen and 6-3 freshman Kaitlyn Ammons.
Texas A&M rotates four forwards who all stand 6-3. Rebounding numbers are remarkably similar with the Aggies grabbing 92 and DePaul 89.
Watch for a wide-open and totally entertaining showdown on Monday after the two teams put on quite an offensive performance last year in Wintrust Arena with the visitors from the Lone Star State prevailing 93-91.
Players Mentioned
Demon Docs: Welcome Head Coach Jill M. Pizzotti
Tuesday, April 29
Episode 19: Jill M. Pizzotti, Women's Basketball Head Coach
Wednesday, April 16
Jill M. Pizzotti Introductory Press Conference
Tuesday, April 15
DePaul Women's Basketball: Jill Pizzotti Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, April 10