DePaul Opens BIG EAST Tournament on Friday Against No. 10 Providence

Friday, March 3

Uncasville, Conn.

12:30 P.M. CT

DePaul University

No. 10 Providence

DePaul Opens BIG EAST Tournament on Friday Against No. 10 Providence

3/2/2023 5:53:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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Seventh-seeded Blue Demons face No. 10 Providence at 12:30 p.m. CT on SNY and FloHoops

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The seventh-seeded DePaul women's basketball team will begin the 2023 BIG EAST Tournament presented by Jeep on Friday, March 3 with a first round matchup versus No. 10 Providence at Mohegan Sun Arena. Tipoff is slated for 12:30 p.m. CT with John Fanta (play-by-play), Harry Perretta (analyst) and Meghan Caffrey (sideline) covering the action live on SNY and streaming on FloHoops.

About DePaul
The Blue Demons enter the postseason 15-16 after going 8-12 in BIG EAST regular season play and will look to snap a three-game skid on Friday after dropping back-to-back three-point decisions to then-No. 14 Villanova and then-No. 4 Connecticut before falling to Marquette in the regular season finale on Monday.

Sophomore All-American Aneesah Morrow, a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection for the second-consecutive season, has led the Blue Demons all season long averaging 25.7 points per game to go along with 12.0 rebounds which both rank in the top seven nationally. The Chicago native has finished in double figures in 30 of 31 games and recorded 20+ points in 26 contests as her 23 double-doubles ranks third nationally. In the last five games, Morrow has increased her averages to 28.4 ppg and 13.8 rpg. With 798 points this season, Morrow is seven points away from breaking DePaul's single-season scoring record held by Diana Vines (804 points, 1988-89).

Darrione Rogers earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors on Thursday as the No. 4 scorer in the BIG EAST at 17.3 points per game while dishing out 5.1 assists per game which ranks third in the league. Senior guard Anaya Peoples has added 11.2 points and 4.2 assists per game over the last five contests and is averaging just below 10 points on the season.

As a team, the Blue Demons lead the BIG EAST in scoring offense at 77.1 points a game while grabbing a league-best 9.2 steals a game. DePaul's 15.0 offensive rebounds a game is good for 16th nationally.

In his 37th season leading his alma mater, Doug Bruno is 773-384.

About Providence
Providence (13-18, 4-16) enters the first-round matchup having lost eight in a row including a three-point decision to St. John's on the final day of the regular season.

Janai Crooms, the Ohio State and Michigan State transfer, has led Providence all season averaging 11.7 points per game in addition to 7.1 rebounds a contest. Olivia Olsen adds 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds a game while Grace Efosa has emerged as a key player with 9.6 points a game.

The Friars are second in the BIG EAST in defensive rebounds per game at a 26.9 mark while their average of 12 fouls per game is fewest in the nation.

Jim Crowley is in his seventh season leading the Friars and is 84-123 at the helm in Providence.

BIG EAST Tournament History
2023 marks the 18th BIG EAST tournament appearance for the Blue Demons since joining the league prior to the 2005-06 season. Through the previous 17 postseason tournaments, DePaul is 26-12 and boasts five BIG EAST Tournament titles (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2020) with the cumulative wins and tournament championships ranking second in league history behind Connecticut.

The Blue Demons will look to snap a two-game skid in the conference tournament since the event moved to Mohegan Sun Arena in 2021.

As A Seven Seed
The Blue Demons have earned the seventh seed on just two prior occasions prior to this season with the others coming in 2010 and 2013. As a No. 7, DePaul owns a 2-2 record with both wins coming against Marquette in the respective first rounds.

The scarlet and blue own a 2-0 record against teams on the 10-seed line.

Against the Friars
DePaul is 2-0 against Providence when the two programs meet in the BIG EAST Tournament with the two prior meetings coming in 2019 and 2020 Quarterfinal action at Wintrust Arena.

Series History
DePaul owns a 28-4 all-time record against Providence while being the victors in the last 22 meetings. Against the Friars in 2022-23, the Blue Demons picked up a 78-69 win at Wintrust Arena on Dec. 28 before using a big second half to take a 86-64 victory at Alumni Hall on Feb. 18 for the season sweep.

Morrow is averaging 30.0 points and 20.5 rebounds in two meetings against Providence while Rogers has put up 21 points a game.

Up Next
The winner of Friday's opening round matchup will face No. 2 Villanova in Saturday's quarterfinals. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. CT with coverage on FS2.