DePaul University Athletics
Sunday, February 20
Villanova, PA
1:00 P.M. CT
DePaul University
at
Villanova
DePaul Clashes With Villanova Sunday in BIG EAST Showdown
2/19/2022 5:21:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Blue Demons face league's hottest team which has won nine of its last 10 games
VILLANOVA, Pa. – There is an individual living in this upscale suburb of Philadelphia who represents the single-biggest roadblock to DePaul's chances for success Sunday at Finneran Pavilion.
She shares an affinity for this comfortable Pennsylvania locale with well-known, one-time residents such as actor Will Smith, Philadelphia 76er legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving and a colorful 7-foot, 2-inch character and basketball center known for playfully wagging his forefinger each time Dikembe Mutombo would reject a shot.
Figuratively speaking, Villanova Wildcat forward Maddy Siegrist who is the second-leading scorer in the country (26.4 points a game) will be wagging her forefinger, knocking down shots and looking to light it up at a moment's notice against DePaul in a critical BIG EAST showdown that can be seen on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
Coach Doug Bruno, his talented staff and the entire team saw first-hand Siegrist pouring in 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting while also corralling 14 rebounds in a 75-63 loss to the Blue Demons back on Jan. 14 at Wintrust Arena.
This was not long after this remarkable junior had returned from an injury that had sidelined her for six games.
As you might imagine, she has only gotten better and better the more distance she puts between that health setback. Right after losing in the South Loop, Siegrist & Co. won nine in a row.
The uber-talented sharpshooter was pretty much at her best in a 74-63 overtime victory over Marquette last week when she scored a career-high 42 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The 42 points were just one shy of the BIG EAST all-time scoring mark.
Any opponent that overplays Siegrist too much runs the risk of getting burned by her talented teammates---most notably Lior Garzon (14 points a game) and Brianna Herlihy (11 points, 8.4 rebounds).
Villanova (17-7, 11-4 BIG EAST) was never better this season than on Feb. 9 when the Wildcats upset then-No. 8/8 Connecticut 72-69 on the road---handing coach Geno Auriemma and his all-time great program its first conference loss in what seems like forever.
Although Siegrist accounts for more than 40 percent of the Wildcat scoring output, single-option teams have no chance against UConn's lengthy, stifling defense.
On that night, Garzon led with 19 points, Siegrist had 17 points and 12 rebounds, Herlihy 15 points and 10 boards while playmaker Lucy Olsen finished with 11 points and seven assists.
It will require a wholly collaborative effort from DePaul's double-figure scoring starting five along with key contributions from Kierra Collier and Kendall Holmes to overcome one of the BIG EAST's hottest teams.
All-American candidate Aneesah Morrow needs to continue her breakout season that has the 6-foot, 1-inch power forward leading the nation in double-doubles and every rebounding category. She is one of only four players in NCAA women's basketball history to string together 20-straight double-doubles according to ESPN Stats and Info.
The former Simeon All-Stater is 11 rebounds shy of DePaul's all-time, single-season rebounding record of 397 set by All-American Diana Vines in the 1986-87 season. Morrow (20.9 points, 13.8 rebounds per game) is second in the country in field goals, third in total points and sixth in steals.
Smooth as Velvet Sonya Morris (17.8 points a game) is third in the nation in field goals and No. 17 in points. Deja Church (14.5 points) is ninth in the NCAA in free throw percentage.
Lexi Held (13.1 points, 5.6 assists) is No. 6 in total assists for a team that leads the country in that category along with scoring offense. DePaul's deep threat Darrione Rogers is averaging 10 points a game.
The Blue Demons have as much firepower as anyone in NCAA Division I averaging 89.1 points a game. The next-highest offense is Oklahoma at 85.3.
But as Bruno has been impressing upon his players more than ever these last few weeks---this is the time of year when defense can be the penultimate difference-maker.
No better time to break that out than Sunday inside Finneran Pavilion.
She shares an affinity for this comfortable Pennsylvania locale with well-known, one-time residents such as actor Will Smith, Philadelphia 76er legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving and a colorful 7-foot, 2-inch character and basketball center known for playfully wagging his forefinger each time Dikembe Mutombo would reject a shot.
Figuratively speaking, Villanova Wildcat forward Maddy Siegrist who is the second-leading scorer in the country (26.4 points a game) will be wagging her forefinger, knocking down shots and looking to light it up at a moment's notice against DePaul in a critical BIG EAST showdown that can be seen on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
Coach Doug Bruno, his talented staff and the entire team saw first-hand Siegrist pouring in 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting while also corralling 14 rebounds in a 75-63 loss to the Blue Demons back on Jan. 14 at Wintrust Arena.
This was not long after this remarkable junior had returned from an injury that had sidelined her for six games.
As you might imagine, she has only gotten better and better the more distance she puts between that health setback. Right after losing in the South Loop, Siegrist & Co. won nine in a row.
The uber-talented sharpshooter was pretty much at her best in a 74-63 overtime victory over Marquette last week when she scored a career-high 42 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The 42 points were just one shy of the BIG EAST all-time scoring mark.
Any opponent that overplays Siegrist too much runs the risk of getting burned by her talented teammates---most notably Lior Garzon (14 points a game) and Brianna Herlihy (11 points, 8.4 rebounds).
Villanova (17-7, 11-4 BIG EAST) was never better this season than on Feb. 9 when the Wildcats upset then-No. 8/8 Connecticut 72-69 on the road---handing coach Geno Auriemma and his all-time great program its first conference loss in what seems like forever.
Although Siegrist accounts for more than 40 percent of the Wildcat scoring output, single-option teams have no chance against UConn's lengthy, stifling defense.
On that night, Garzon led with 19 points, Siegrist had 17 points and 12 rebounds, Herlihy 15 points and 10 boards while playmaker Lucy Olsen finished with 11 points and seven assists.
It will require a wholly collaborative effort from DePaul's double-figure scoring starting five along with key contributions from Kierra Collier and Kendall Holmes to overcome one of the BIG EAST's hottest teams.
All-American candidate Aneesah Morrow needs to continue her breakout season that has the 6-foot, 1-inch power forward leading the nation in double-doubles and every rebounding category. She is one of only four players in NCAA women's basketball history to string together 20-straight double-doubles according to ESPN Stats and Info.
The former Simeon All-Stater is 11 rebounds shy of DePaul's all-time, single-season rebounding record of 397 set by All-American Diana Vines in the 1986-87 season. Morrow (20.9 points, 13.8 rebounds per game) is second in the country in field goals, third in total points and sixth in steals.
Smooth as Velvet Sonya Morris (17.8 points a game) is third in the nation in field goals and No. 17 in points. Deja Church (14.5 points) is ninth in the NCAA in free throw percentage.
Lexi Held (13.1 points, 5.6 assists) is No. 6 in total assists for a team that leads the country in that category along with scoring offense. DePaul's deep threat Darrione Rogers is averaging 10 points a game.
The Blue Demons have as much firepower as anyone in NCAA Division I averaging 89.1 points a game. The next-highest offense is Oklahoma at 85.3.
But as Bruno has been impressing upon his players more than ever these last few weeks---this is the time of year when defense can be the penultimate difference-maker.
No better time to break that out than Sunday inside Finneran Pavilion.
Players Mentioned
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