Blue Demons Battle Butler on the Road Friday

Friday, January 21

Indianapolis, IN

6:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

Butler

1/20/2022 4:20:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Live Video Live Stats De Paul Notes Butler Notes

BIG EAST matchup at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse tips at 6 p.m.

CHICAGO – There may come a time when DePaul's depth pieces will be charged with taking on the difference-making role that normally falls to the starting five.

Dee Bekelja and Kierra Collier immediately come to mind as the first two players off the bench. Bekelja has been rock-steady making an impact the moment she takes the court, infusing undeniable energy into the proceedings.

Collier can ignite an offensive outburst while at the same time using her quickness and long arms to unleash a harassing man-to-man defense.

Those two along with Kendall Holmes and Hannah Purcell could see more court time when the Blue Demons visit Butler Friday night for a BIG EAST matchup at the storied Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Collier arguably had her best game in a DePaul uniform in last month's 101-64 triumph over Butler at Wiintrust Arena.

The stylish point guard finished with 14 points and five assists shooting .714 from the field (5-of-7) including 3-of-3 behind the arc.

The Drake transfer also scored 14 points and added six rebounds in a 77-74 victory over NCAA tournament team Rutgers at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands last Thanksgiving.

The Blue Demons' First Five of Sonya Morris, Lexi Held, Deja Church, Darrione Rogers and Annesah Morrow are all averaging double figures and have combined for more than 75 points a game.

They have done the heavy lifting for the nation's highest-scoring offense and been primarily responsible for their team's sparkling 14-4 record including 6-1 in BIG EAST play.

Pleased as he is with their perpetual production, coach Doug Bruno is well aware that playing his starters' heavy minutes will take its toll later in the season.

The Blue Demons lead the country in scoring (91.3 points a game) and assists. They are second in assists per game, fifth in rebounds and offensive rebounds per game, seventh in field goals and three-pointers and No 10 in assist-turnover ratio.

Morrow (18.9 points and 12.2 rebounds per game) leads the nation in double-doubles with 13 and is second in rebounds and offensive rebounds per game, third in total rebounds per game and fourth in field goals.

Morris (17.5 points a game) is third in the country in field goals while Held (14.7 points) is No. 10 in assists and three-point percentage. Church is contributing 14.2 points per game and is No. 17 nationally in free throw percentage (.903). Rogers chips in with 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds.

Butler is 1-13 and lost to DePaul 101-64 on Dec. 3 at Wintrust Arena. The Bulldogs are 0-5 in the BIG EAST with losses to the Blue Demons, Marquette, Xavier, Connecticut and Creighton by a score of 95-44 on Wednesday night.

Celena Taborn is their leading scorer and rebounder at 14.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Butler is averaging 61 points a game and giving up nearly 80. The Bulldogs opened the season on a 10-game losing streak.