Bluejays' WBB Battle DePaul in Prime Time, Friday on Fox Sports 1
1/20/2015 6:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Creighton and DePaul have met five times, alternating victories. The Blue Demons have won all three meetings in Chicago, while Creighton took both matchups in Omaha.
Scouting DePaul (13-6, 5-2 BIG EAST)
The preseason favorite to repeat as BIG EAST champions, DePaul is as formidable as ever. The Blue Demons are coming off a difficult road trip to the east that saw DePaul down St. John's (84-75) in overtime, then fall to Seton Hall 107-87.
DePaul is a team that likes to get up and down the floor, averaging 77 shots per game. Creighton by contrast averages 59 per contest.
Player of the Year candidate, Brittany Hrynko, leads DePaul with 19.5 ppg as well as a 46.1 shooting percentage. Hrynko has plenty of help as Jessica January (14.2 ppg), Megan Podkowa (13.8 ppg) and Chanise Jenkins (10.6 ppg) also average double figures. Megan Rogowski also sports an average over 10 per game, but has been sidelined for the last five games with an injury.
Defensively the Blue Demons go after every pass, forcing 25.4 turnovers (13.6 steals) per game.
Keys to the Game w/DePaul:
- Take care of the Ball: While this is a key to most games, but against DePaul it is of the utmost importance. The Blue Demons are at their best when scoring on the break.
- Rebound: Although the Blue Demons start four guards, this group all go to the glass. DePaul is averaging 40.3 boards per game. Creighton must make rebounding a priority.
- Control the pace: This goes hand-in-hand with taking care of the ball, but the Bluejays offense is predicated on ball movement. Creighton cannot allow DePaul to speed them up.
Lamberty Delivers Her Own “Flu Game”
While not quite the 38-point effort that Michael Jordan authored on June 11, 1997, Sydney Lamberty's 18-point game at Providence was special.
After sitting out of practice on Tuesday and Wedneday with the flu, including getting fluid through an IV on Wednesday, Lamberty made the trip to Providence on Thursday, Jan. 15. Following a scoreless first half she exploded for 18 points, three rebounds and two steals in the final 20 minutes to lift Creighton past the Friars, 65-54, on Jan. 16.
Double-Double with Defense on the Side
Senior Alexis Akin-Otiko delivered her second career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in the win at Providence. Following the game, however, head coach Jim Flanery mentioned Akin-Otiko's defensive effort on Alexis Harris as the key. Harris scored just 10 points and had four rebounds.
A Passion for Your Alma Mater
Both DePaul and Creighton have former graduates leading their respective teams into battle on Wednesday as the Blue Demons' Doug Bruno graduated from DePaul in 1973. Creighton's Jim Flanery, meanwhile, was a Bluejay graduate in 1987.
Two other BIG EAST coach leads the school he or she graduated from as Seton Hall's Anthony Bozzella in 1989 and Marquette's Carolyn Kieger walked across the stage in 2006.
