DePaul University Athletics
Tuesday, November 3
Chicago, Ill.
6 p.m.
DePaul University
vs
Evansville
11/2/2026 3:51:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Tipoff from Wintrust Arena set for 6 p.m.
CHICAGO – DePaul women's basketball opens its 53rd recognized season of competition Tuesday, Nov. 3, when Evansville visits Wintrust Arena. The 2026-27 campaign tips off at 6 p.m. with live coverage streamed on ESPN+.
Single-game tickets for Tuesday's matchup are available here.
Demon Doings
DePaul opens year two under head coach Jill M. Pizzotti, who enters her 16th season at DePaul. The Blue Demons welcome back three active returners from last season's 8-24 squad, highlighted by fifth-year guard Kate Clarke, who missed the entire 2025-26 campaign due to injury. The Carmel, Ind., native showed no signs of rust in DePaul's lone preseason exhibition against UIC Oct. 16, leading all scorers with 21 points, three assists and three steals, including seven points in just over a minute in the third quarter. Clarke averaged 10.4 points per game and shot 36.6 percent from 3-point range in her first 43 appearances as a Blue Demon. Second-year guard Gina Davorija and third-year guard Ally Timm round out the returning core.
Pizzotti and her staff added eight newcomers in the offseason: six transfers, an international signee and a true first-year. Several of them made an immediate impact in DePaul's 72-66 comeback win over UIC, as the Blue Demons erased a 36-31 halftime deficit by outscoring the Flames 41-30 after the break. All-conference forward Zoey Ward (Iona) added 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting. First-year point guard Mikaia Litza, a Miss Wisconsin Basketball finalist who led Wauwatosa East to a state title, debuted with six points, a game-high nine assists, six rebounds and three steals. Returner Gina Davorija chipped in 13 points and five rebounds.
The frontcourt also features all-conference forward Doyinsola Lijirin (Wagner) and Kaliyah Dillard (San Jose State), while fourth-year guard Ofek Talker of Bnei Ayish, Israel, adds ballhandling and scoring on the wing. Louis Volker (George Mason), Nyah Lowery (Pacific) and Emily Bojan (Wisconsin) bring veteran experience and can be dangerous from a variety of positions.
Scouting Evansville
Evansville went 10-25 overall and 5-15 in the Missouri Valley Conference last season but made a late run, winning three games in three days to reach the MVC Tournament championship game. First-year head coach Ben Wierzba returns just three players, led by junior guard Avery Kelley, who averaged 8.0 points per game last season. The Purple Aces added nine newcomers, including Louisiana transfer Marina Artero and Schoolcraft College standout Siena McNitt. Evansville won its lone exhibition of the preseason, 64-45 over NAIA IU East Oct. 25.
Series Stuff
The Blue Demons and Purple Aces meet for the first time in 40 years on Tuesday evening as the two sides square off for the seventh time. DePaul leads the all-time series 6-0, including a 3-0 mark in games played in Chicago. All six previous matchups came in a three-season span between 1984 and 1986.
Season Opening Success
DePaul is 40-12 all-time in season openers, including 31-9 in the last 40 seasons. The Blue Demons are 6-1 in lid lifters at Wintrust Arena since moving their home venue to the South Loop full time before the 2021-22 season.
A season ago, the Blue Demons rode a career-high 28 points from Ally Timm, who shot 80 percent from long range (8-10 3FG), to a 92-54 win over Valparaiso in the season opener. Timm's eight 3-pointers were tied for the second-most in a single game in program history.
Up Next
The Blue Demons continue a busy three-game opening week with an 11 a.m. tilt against Purdue Fort Wayne Friday, Nov. 6, at Wintrust Arena. The game will serve as the first of two Field Trip Days for the program this season, with thousands of Chicagoland schoolchildren expected to be in attendance. ESPN+ will carry DePaul's matchup with the Mastodons.
TICKET INFORMATION
Help us complete the DePaul 500! Full season tickets for the 2026-27 DePaul women's basketball season at Wintrust Arena are on sale now, starting at $125 per seat. Special discounts are available for DePaul faculty, staff, retirees and recent graduates (2022-26). Secure your seats today at DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Women's Basketball, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Single-game tickets for Tuesday's matchup are available here.
Demon Doings
DePaul opens year two under head coach Jill M. Pizzotti, who enters her 16th season at DePaul. The Blue Demons welcome back three active returners from last season's 8-24 squad, highlighted by fifth-year guard Kate Clarke, who missed the entire 2025-26 campaign due to injury. The Carmel, Ind., native showed no signs of rust in DePaul's lone preseason exhibition against UIC Oct. 16, leading all scorers with 21 points, three assists and three steals, including seven points in just over a minute in the third quarter. Clarke averaged 10.4 points per game and shot 36.6 percent from 3-point range in her first 43 appearances as a Blue Demon. Second-year guard Gina Davorija and third-year guard Ally Timm round out the returning core.
Pizzotti and her staff added eight newcomers in the offseason: six transfers, an international signee and a true first-year. Several of them made an immediate impact in DePaul's 72-66 comeback win over UIC, as the Blue Demons erased a 36-31 halftime deficit by outscoring the Flames 41-30 after the break. All-conference forward Zoey Ward (Iona) added 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting. First-year point guard Mikaia Litza, a Miss Wisconsin Basketball finalist who led Wauwatosa East to a state title, debuted with six points, a game-high nine assists, six rebounds and three steals. Returner Gina Davorija chipped in 13 points and five rebounds.
The frontcourt also features all-conference forward Doyinsola Lijirin (Wagner) and Kaliyah Dillard (San Jose State), while fourth-year guard Ofek Talker of Bnei Ayish, Israel, adds ballhandling and scoring on the wing. Louis Volker (George Mason), Nyah Lowery (Pacific) and Emily Bojan (Wisconsin) bring veteran experience and can be dangerous from a variety of positions.
Scouting Evansville
Evansville went 10-25 overall and 5-15 in the Missouri Valley Conference last season but made a late run, winning three games in three days to reach the MVC Tournament championship game. First-year head coach Ben Wierzba returns just three players, led by junior guard Avery Kelley, who averaged 8.0 points per game last season. The Purple Aces added nine newcomers, including Louisiana transfer Marina Artero and Schoolcraft College standout Siena McNitt. Evansville won its lone exhibition of the preseason, 64-45 over NAIA IU East Oct. 25.
Series Stuff
The Blue Demons and Purple Aces meet for the first time in 40 years on Tuesday evening as the two sides square off for the seventh time. DePaul leads the all-time series 6-0, including a 3-0 mark in games played in Chicago. All six previous matchups came in a three-season span between 1984 and 1986.
Season Opening Success
DePaul is 40-12 all-time in season openers, including 31-9 in the last 40 seasons. The Blue Demons are 6-1 in lid lifters at Wintrust Arena since moving their home venue to the South Loop full time before the 2021-22 season.
A season ago, the Blue Demons rode a career-high 28 points from Ally Timm, who shot 80 percent from long range (8-10 3FG), to a 92-54 win over Valparaiso in the season opener. Timm's eight 3-pointers were tied for the second-most in a single game in program history.
Up Next
The Blue Demons continue a busy three-game opening week with an 11 a.m. tilt against Purdue Fort Wayne Friday, Nov. 6, at Wintrust Arena. The game will serve as the first of two Field Trip Days for the program this season, with thousands of Chicagoland schoolchildren expected to be in attendance. ESPN+ will carry DePaul's matchup with the Mastodons.
TICKET INFORMATION
Help us complete the DePaul 500! Full season tickets for the 2026-27 DePaul women's basketball season at Wintrust Arena are on sale now, starting at $125 per seat. Special discounts are available for DePaul faculty, staff, retirees and recent graduates (2022-26). Secure your seats today at DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Women's Basketball, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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