BIG EAST Unbeaten Blue Demons Face Providence on Friday Night

Friday, January 7

Providence, RI

6:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

Providence

BIG EAST Unbeaten Blue Demons Face Providence on Friday Night

1/6/2022 2:19:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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Shooting for their eighth win in last nine games in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – There's no doubt these Blue Demons will be freshened up and well-rested for their next BIG EAST Conference encounter on Friday night.

When coach Doug Bruno's team steps onto the Alumni Hall court in Providence, R.I., it will be 16 days since the last game, a 91-86 setback to No. 20/19 Notre Dame on Dec. 22.

The combination of a Christmas holiday break and a cancellation of the Dec. 31 showdown against No. 11/11 Connecticut because of COVID-19 issues within the UConn program prevented any game action.

While looking to keep his players sharp during this down time, Bruno also made sure they had time off to recharge their batteries and recuperate from any nagging injuries.

Unleashing their high-energy attack that leads the country in scoring at nearly 92 points a game will go a long way towards working off any lingering rust from the long layoff.

With five starters all averaging in double figures, sharing the ball and making the extra pass is paramount for a team that also leads the nation in assists.

The shooting and sharing all starts with seniors Sonya Morris and Lexi Held plus graduate student Deja Church.

Any one of that triumvirate is capable of a career night as evidenced by Morris' 36 points against Vanderbilt and 35 at St. John's.

But the Blue Demons are at their best when all five starters finish in double figures and shoot 50 percent or better---which has happened twice this season.

Leading the way is breakout freshman Aneesah Morrow who is averaging 18.7 points and 12 rebounds a game while leading the nation in total rebounds and ranking second in double-doubles and offensive rebounds per game.

On Wednesday night, Morrow was the only freshman selected to the coveted John Wooden Award Watch List as one of the top 25 players in the country.

The aforementioned Morris is averaging a tad under 17 points and is fourth in the country (along with Morrow) in field goals. Held averages 14.1 points and is No. 8 in the nation in assists.

Playing her best ball as a Blue Demon, Church is contributing 14.1 points a game and is the BIG EAST's second-best free thrower at 90 percent.

Rounding out this First Five is confident sophomore Darrione Rogers scoring at an 11.1 clip who is at her most dangerous behind the arc leading the conference in three-point percentage (.446).

There's not much of a breather for opponents when Dee Bekelja and Kierra Collier enter the game as this talented guard tandem combines to average more than 15 points a night. Further backup is provided by forward Hannah Purcell and guard Kendall Holmes.

DePaul (11-3, 3-0 BIG EAST) will be looking for its eighth win in the last nine games against a 6-6 Providence team whose best game was a 66-47 victory over Villanova but hasn't played since Dec. 19.

The Friars revolve around multi-talented 5-10 junior Janai Crooms who is the cousin of Providence men's basketball coach Ed Cooley and played two years at Ohio State and one at Michigan State before transferring in.

This backcourt difference-maker leads the team in scoring at 14.3 points a game and in rebounding at 10.4. She is also tops in assists, steals and blocks. It's no wonder Friars coach Jim Crowley calls her number 36 minutes per game.

Expect Providence (1-2 in BIG EAST play) to try and exploit the Blue Demons inside after watching game film of Notre Dame having success down low. Crowley will attack with 6-4 Alyssa Geary (12.8 points a game) and 6-3 Mary Baskerville (10.8 points) doing damage in the paint.

Other Friars for Bruno & Co. to hold in check are Emily Archibald, Lauren Sampson, Audrey Koch and Kylee Sheppard.