The DePaul University women's basketball team would like nothing than to win the Big East Conference tournament—because it is the Lady Blue Demons who play host to the annual event, March 8-11, at the Allstate Arena in suburban Rosemont.
DePaul is 21-6 overall, among the "Others receiving votes" in both major polls of the top 25 women's basketball teams in the nation. The Lady Blue Demons are 12-3 in conference play ( as of Feb. 22 ), within striking distance of St. John's ( 12-2 in conference, 19-6 overall, and ranked No. 22 in the latest AP Top 25 ).
"It's exciting that the tournament will be [held] in Chicago; this should be some really good basketball," said Marcia Hill, a member of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ) Hall of Fame.
Other top teams in the Big East this season include Creighton, Villanova and Marquette.
"It's great that this caliber of basketball is going to be played in Chicago, especially women's basketball," said Grete Hornstrom, commissioner of the CMSA women's basketball league.
DePaul boasts a high octane offense, tops in the conference, averaging 84.4 points per game, led by the dynamic duo of Jasmine Penny and Megan Rogowski, each of whom rank among the top 10 in the league for scoring. Rogowski also is the league leader for long-range shooting, with 86 3-point baskets ( out of 189 attempted ). Penny leads the Big East in field goal percentage ( .582 ).
The Blue Demons also boast Brittany Hrynko, who leads the league in assists average/game ( 5.6 ) and steals/game ( 2.6 ). DePaul's Chanise Jenkins is tied for second in assists with Seton Hall's Ka-Deidre Simmons ( 5.4 ).
"Fans will, no doubt, get to see some great players, some of whom will move on to the WNBA [after their college careers]," Hornstrom said. "This tournament is a great opportunity for young girls, young players—to see that there is potential to play top-level college basketball."
Notre Dame was the top Big East team last season, with its 16-0 regular-season record, but was eliminated from the Big East Tournament by the University of Connecticut, which went on to claim the title with its 93-60 win over Louisville.
This season's Big East boasts 10 teams, including Butler, Georgetown, Xavier and Providence.
First-round games in the tournament will feature the No. 7 seed facing the No. 10 seed, and the No. 8 and No. 9 seeded teams battling on March 8. These are the only games of the tournament that will be played at McGrath Phillips Arena in Chicago.
The No. 1-seeded team faces the 8-9 winner in its first game on March 9.
The champion will be crowned March 11.
The semifinals and finals will be televised by Fox Sports 1.
For tickets see www.BIGEAST.com or call 1-777-325-SLAM.
