DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Clashes With Seton Hall on Senior Night
2/24/2022 4:44:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Postgame ceremony Friday will honor Dee Bekelja, Deja Church, Lexi Held, Sonya Morris
CHICAGO – It promises to be a night to remember in the South Loop.
On Friday amidst the intense heat of a BIG EAST playoff race with NCAA tournament implications, DePaul will engage Seton Hall at Wintrust Arena in what becomes its biggest game of the year.
The pressure will be palpable, and so will the genuine, raw emotion as Blue Demon nation bids farewell to Dee Bekelja, Deja Church, Lexi Held and Sonya Morris who have endeared themselves to all who pledge allegiance to the tradition-laded Vincentian university in the heart of Lincoln Park.
Over the last handful of years, this fabulous foursome has led DePaul to a three-peat BIG EAST tournament title and a trio of appearances in the NCAA tournament.
Held and Morris are All-BIG EAST honorees, Bekelja made Honorable Mention and Church has been instrumental in racking up 63 wins in three pandemic-shortened seasons since transferring from Big Ten power Michigan.
They have led by word and deed, earning one accolade after another both on the court and in the classroom.
And now, in their final hurrah, their last run---their very own "Last Dance" as it were---Dee, Deja, Lexi and Sonya will unleash their considerable skills and exhaust their will to win in an effort to bring their teammates to college basketball's Promised Land.
NCAA tournament or bust.
The task at hand is daunting to say the least. DePaul (21-8, 13-5 BIG EAST) will confront Seton Hall (15-11, 10-8) which has won seven of its last eight games highlighted by a 12-point win over Villanova (19-7, 13-4).
The Pirates from South Orange, N.J. feature a triple-threat attack led by consummate point guard Lauren Park-Lane who averages a team-high 17.2 points while dishing out a BIG EAST-best 7.3 assists per game.
Andra Espinoza-Hunter (16.3 points a game) is an explosive scorer much like her Blue Demon counterpart Morris (17.8 points).
Complementing those two game-breaking guards is 6-foot, 4-inch Sidney Crooks (14.7 points, 7.6 rebounds) who will square off with DePaul's 6-1 All-American candidate Aneesah Morrow (21 points, 13.8 rebounds) in a compelling battle in the blocks.
In addition to coach Doug Bruno's M&M combo is a difference-making threesome of Held, Church and Darrione Rogers who combine for nearly 38 points a game.
When DePaul and Seton Hall clashed on Jan. 30 in New Jersey, Morrow had a record-breaking game with 22 points and an all-time BIG EAST record 27 rebounds in the Blue Demons' 85-65 victory.
Morris was at her best with 26 points, six rebounds and six assists while Church added 20 points. Held contributed nine points and seven assists.
Cooks was nearly unstoppable on the Pirates' side with 32 points and 10 rebounds. Park-Lane had 12 points and six assists.
Right after losing to the Blue Demons, Seton Hall won six in a row.
On Friday amidst the intense heat of a BIG EAST playoff race with NCAA tournament implications, DePaul will engage Seton Hall at Wintrust Arena in what becomes its biggest game of the year.
The pressure will be palpable, and so will the genuine, raw emotion as Blue Demon nation bids farewell to Dee Bekelja, Deja Church, Lexi Held and Sonya Morris who have endeared themselves to all who pledge allegiance to the tradition-laded Vincentian university in the heart of Lincoln Park.
Over the last handful of years, this fabulous foursome has led DePaul to a three-peat BIG EAST tournament title and a trio of appearances in the NCAA tournament.
Held and Morris are All-BIG EAST honorees, Bekelja made Honorable Mention and Church has been instrumental in racking up 63 wins in three pandemic-shortened seasons since transferring from Big Ten power Michigan.
They have led by word and deed, earning one accolade after another both on the court and in the classroom.
And now, in their final hurrah, their last run---their very own "Last Dance" as it were---Dee, Deja, Lexi and Sonya will unleash their considerable skills and exhaust their will to win in an effort to bring their teammates to college basketball's Promised Land.
NCAA tournament or bust.
The task at hand is daunting to say the least. DePaul (21-8, 13-5 BIG EAST) will confront Seton Hall (15-11, 10-8) which has won seven of its last eight games highlighted by a 12-point win over Villanova (19-7, 13-4).
The Pirates from South Orange, N.J. feature a triple-threat attack led by consummate point guard Lauren Park-Lane who averages a team-high 17.2 points while dishing out a BIG EAST-best 7.3 assists per game.
Andra Espinoza-Hunter (16.3 points a game) is an explosive scorer much like her Blue Demon counterpart Morris (17.8 points).
Complementing those two game-breaking guards is 6-foot, 4-inch Sidney Crooks (14.7 points, 7.6 rebounds) who will square off with DePaul's 6-1 All-American candidate Aneesah Morrow (21 points, 13.8 rebounds) in a compelling battle in the blocks.
In addition to coach Doug Bruno's M&M combo is a difference-making threesome of Held, Church and Darrione Rogers who combine for nearly 38 points a game.
When DePaul and Seton Hall clashed on Jan. 30 in New Jersey, Morrow had a record-breaking game with 22 points and an all-time BIG EAST record 27 rebounds in the Blue Demons' 85-65 victory.
Morris was at her best with 26 points, six rebounds and six assists while Church added 20 points. Held contributed nine points and seven assists.
Cooks was nearly unstoppable on the Pirates' side with 32 points and 10 rebounds. Park-Lane had 12 points and six assists.
Right after losing to the Blue Demons, Seton Hall won six in a row.
Players Mentioned
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