DePaul University Athletics
Jorie Allen Selected Most Improved Player, Pair of Blue Demons Honored All-BIG EAST
3/6/2025 10:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
NEW YORK – DePaul's Jorie Allen and Taylor Johnson-Matthews were recognized by BIG EAST coaches on Thursday as the conference announced its postseason awards prior to the 2025 Women's Basketball Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena. Allen was selected the conference's most improved player in addition to an All-BIG EAST First Team nod while Johnson-Matthews earned an All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention certificate.
Major awards and All-BIG EAST Teams were selected by a vote of the league's head coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Allen becomes the fourth Blue Demon to earn the league's most improved honor after turning in the best season of her collegiate career in her final year of eligibility. The graduate student led the BIG EAST in scoring during conference play with 20.0 points per game. Her scoring average improved nearly 8.5 points per game from a season ago while she increased her production in assists, blocks and steals – leading DePaul in each category. Allen scored in double figures in all 31 games of the regular season including 16 outings of 20 or more points which led the league. The Bedford, Ind. native made a living from the free throw line, making 207 of her 245 attempts (.845) to set a program single-season record while ranking third in Division I.
She is the first Blue Demon to lead the BIG EAST in scoring since Brooke Schulte averaged a league-best 20.8 points per game in the 2016-17 campaign. Allen earned the conference's scoring title without making a three-point field goal and is the first player to do so since Louisville's Monique Reid in 2009-10.
Johnson-Matthews provided an immediate spark in her first season in a Blue Demon uniform. The junior guard ranked seventh in scoring in the regular season, averaging 16.06 points per game in conference contests. She finished in double figures in 13 conference games including six performances of 20 or more points. Johnson-Matthews shot 40-percent from the floor in conference games, while connecting from behind the arc on 38-percent of her attempts.
Connecticut swept the top three individual awards with Paige Bueckers earning Player of the Year for the third time in her career while Sarah Strong was tabbed Freshman of the Year. Geno Auriemma and Marquette's Cara Consuegra shared Coach of the Year honors.
The Blue Demons boast 51 All-BIG EAST certificates since joining the league prior to the 2005-06 season. Allen joins Sonya Morris (2019-20), Brooke Schulte (2016-17) and Brittany Hrynko (2012-13) as DePaul's all-time most improved player honorees.
DePaul (13-18, 8-10 BIG EAST) opens the 2025 BIG EAST Tournament on Friday, March 7 when the sixth-seeded Blue Demons face off against No. 11 Xavier. Tipoff from Mohegan Sun is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST with live coverage carried on FloCollege.
2025 BIG EAST Postseason Awards
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Paige Bueckers, UConn, R-Sr., G
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year: Sarah Strong, UConn, Fr., F
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year: Lashae Dwyer, St. John's, Sr., G
BIG EAST Most Improved Player: Jorie Allen, DePaul, Gr., F
BIG EAST Co-Sportsmanship Award: Molly Mogensen, Creighton, Gr., G / Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown, Gr., G
BIG EAST Sixth Woman of the Year: Ashlynn Shade, UConn, So., G
BIG EAST Co-Coaches of the Year: Geno Auriemma, UConn / Cara Consuegra, Marquette
First Team*
Paige Bueckers, UConn, R-Sr., G^
Azzi Fudd, UConn, Gr., G
Sarah Strong, UConn, Fr., F^
Lauren Jensen, Creighton, Sr., G^
Morgan Maly, Creighton, Sr., G/F^
Jorie Allen, DePaul, Gr., F
Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown, Gr., G
Skylar Forbes, Marquette, So., F
Jada Eads, Seton Hall, Fr., G
Faith Masonius, Seton Hall, Gr., F
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, Fr., G
Second Team
Kilyn McGuff, Butler, Sr., G
Lee Volker, Marquette, Sr., G
Grace Efosa, Providence, Gr., G
Lashae Dwyer, St. John's, Sr., G
Maddie Webber, Villanova, So., G
Honorable Mention
Molly Mogensen, Creighton, Gr., G
Taylor Johnson-Matthews, DePaul, Jr., G
Ariel Jenkins, Georgetown, Sr., C
Olivia Olsen, Providence, Sr., F
All-Freshman Team
Sarah Strong, UConn, Fr., F^
Khadee Hession, Georgetown, Fr., G
Jada Eads, Seton Hall, Fr., G^
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, Fr., G^
Meri Kanerva, Xavier, Fr., G
* Due to a tie in voting, there are 11 players on the first team.
^ unanimous selection
Major awards and All-BIG EAST Teams were selected by a vote of the league's head coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Allen becomes the fourth Blue Demon to earn the league's most improved honor after turning in the best season of her collegiate career in her final year of eligibility. The graduate student led the BIG EAST in scoring during conference play with 20.0 points per game. Her scoring average improved nearly 8.5 points per game from a season ago while she increased her production in assists, blocks and steals – leading DePaul in each category. Allen scored in double figures in all 31 games of the regular season including 16 outings of 20 or more points which led the league. The Bedford, Ind. native made a living from the free throw line, making 207 of her 245 attempts (.845) to set a program single-season record while ranking third in Division I.
She is the first Blue Demon to lead the BIG EAST in scoring since Brooke Schulte averaged a league-best 20.8 points per game in the 2016-17 campaign. Allen earned the conference's scoring title without making a three-point field goal and is the first player to do so since Louisville's Monique Reid in 2009-10.
Johnson-Matthews provided an immediate spark in her first season in a Blue Demon uniform. The junior guard ranked seventh in scoring in the regular season, averaging 16.06 points per game in conference contests. She finished in double figures in 13 conference games including six performances of 20 or more points. Johnson-Matthews shot 40-percent from the floor in conference games, while connecting from behind the arc on 38-percent of her attempts.
Connecticut swept the top three individual awards with Paige Bueckers earning Player of the Year for the third time in her career while Sarah Strong was tabbed Freshman of the Year. Geno Auriemma and Marquette's Cara Consuegra shared Coach of the Year honors.
The Blue Demons boast 51 All-BIG EAST certificates since joining the league prior to the 2005-06 season. Allen joins Sonya Morris (2019-20), Brooke Schulte (2016-17) and Brittany Hrynko (2012-13) as DePaul's all-time most improved player honorees.
DePaul (13-18, 8-10 BIG EAST) opens the 2025 BIG EAST Tournament on Friday, March 7 when the sixth-seeded Blue Demons face off against No. 11 Xavier. Tipoff from Mohegan Sun is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST with live coverage carried on FloCollege.
2025 BIG EAST Postseason Awards
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Paige Bueckers, UConn, R-Sr., G
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year: Sarah Strong, UConn, Fr., F
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year: Lashae Dwyer, St. John's, Sr., G
BIG EAST Most Improved Player: Jorie Allen, DePaul, Gr., F
BIG EAST Co-Sportsmanship Award: Molly Mogensen, Creighton, Gr., G / Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown, Gr., G
BIG EAST Sixth Woman of the Year: Ashlynn Shade, UConn, So., G
BIG EAST Co-Coaches of the Year: Geno Auriemma, UConn / Cara Consuegra, Marquette
First Team*
Paige Bueckers, UConn, R-Sr., G^
Azzi Fudd, UConn, Gr., G
Sarah Strong, UConn, Fr., F^
Lauren Jensen, Creighton, Sr., G^
Morgan Maly, Creighton, Sr., G/F^
Jorie Allen, DePaul, Gr., F
Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown, Gr., G
Skylar Forbes, Marquette, So., F
Jada Eads, Seton Hall, Fr., G
Faith Masonius, Seton Hall, Gr., F
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, Fr., G
Second Team
Kilyn McGuff, Butler, Sr., G
Lee Volker, Marquette, Sr., G
Grace Efosa, Providence, Gr., G
Lashae Dwyer, St. John's, Sr., G
Maddie Webber, Villanova, So., G
Honorable Mention
Molly Mogensen, Creighton, Gr., G
Taylor Johnson-Matthews, DePaul, Jr., G
Ariel Jenkins, Georgetown, Sr., C
Olivia Olsen, Providence, Sr., F
All-Freshman Team
Sarah Strong, UConn, Fr., F^
Khadee Hession, Georgetown, Fr., G
Jada Eads, Seton Hall, Fr., G^
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, Fr., G^
Meri Kanerva, Xavier, Fr., G
* Due to a tie in voting, there are 11 players on the first team.
^ unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
F
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
G
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