Women's Basketball Battles #21 DePaul on Friday

Omaha, Neb. -- The Creighton women's basketball team hopes to get a boost from a few of their friends when teh Bluejays host #21 DePaul on Friday night as the Bluejays will be hosting an Alumni Night. One notable player expected to be in attendance is McKenzie Fujan, who lit the Blue Demons up for 38 points in Creighton's last victory over DePaul on Jan. 4, 2014.

Download the complete game preview (PDF).

1/27: - 7:00 pm - #21 DePaul (16-5, 8-1 BIG EAST) at Creighton (14-5, 8-1 BIG EAST)

Series History: DePaul leads Creighton, 8-2

Stats (Free): creighton.statbroadcast.com

TV: FS1
Online: http://foxsportsgo.com

Bird Seeds

DePaul and Creighton were selected as co-favorites in the BIG EAST, each earning five first place votes from conference coaches. Through the first half of BIG EAST action, the two squads did not disappoint with equal 8-1 records.
The Blue Demons took the first meeting of the teams this season, 79-65 in Chicago on Jan. 4.
DePaul owns an 8-2 series edge on the Bluejays, posting victories in each of the last six meetings. Creighton's lone win over DePaul since joining the BIG EAST prior to the 2013-14 season came in the first meeting between the two squads as conference foes on Jan. 4, 2014.
Although both Creighton and DePaul sit atop the BIG EAST standings, each squad has suffered through an injury plagued season. The Bluejays have been without projected starters Jade Owens and MC McGrory due to injuries. DePaul, meanwhile, lost the preseason player of the year Jessica January just over one month ago.
The similarities between the two teams extend to their last contest as each team needed overtime its last time out. Creighton earned its second overtime win of the season, 70-60, at Seton Hall. DePaul, however, suffered its first BIG EAST loss to Marquette, 102-101.

DePaul vs. Creighton Series:
In the midst of its fourth season in the BIG EAST, DePaul is lone puzzel the Bluejays have not cracked. DePaul holds an 8-2 overall edge in the 10 meetings between the two teams. Since Creighton joined the BIG EAST in
2013-14, DePaul has won six of the seven
meetings. Creighton's lone win was the first battle
as conference foes on Jan. 4, 2014 (86-78).

Creighton is 2-2 in Omaha against the Blue Demons.

About DePaul

Located in Chicago, Ill.
Led by Doug Bruno for the last 31 seasons, DePaul has reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 14 seasons.
Bruno has an record of 630-323 at DePaul and 670-353 in his career.

Scouting DePaul (16-5, 8-1 BIG EAST)

The Blue Demons are one of the most high powered offenses in the BIG EAST, led by Brooke Schulte's 16.3 ppg.
Schulte has taken up the scoring reigns since BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Jessica January went down with an injury.
Built on a philosophy of high possession and high octnce, the Blue Demons average 84.4 points per game.
DePaul had its 10-game winning streak snapped by Marquette on Saturday, but more importantly the Blue Demons may have lost another piece to their rotation as Lauren Prochaska was carried off the court with an ankle injury.

Keys to the Game w/DePaul

Effort: In the first meeting between the two teams the Bluejays allowed 23 second chance points. Following the game coach Flanery called DePaul the hardest working team in the BIG EAST.
Ball Security: Creighton committed 19 turnovers in the first meeting and also had 19 turnovers in the win at Seton Hall. The Bluejays cannot provide additional opportunities to DePaul.
Play a complete game: Throughout this season Creighton has been able to post six victories despite trailing at halftime and have exploited teams with big third quarters. To beat DePaul or Marquette the Bluejays will need to play at a high level throughout the game.

BIG EAST Pretty Close to Chalk in First Half
Halfway through the BIG EAST Conference season, the coaches are proving to have been in turn to how the season would go. The preseason poll had Creighton and DePaul tied for first place, then Marquette in third and Villanova in fourth. Each one of those predictions has held true at the halfway point. The poll predicted Georgetown and St. John's in fifth and sixth. Those two teams are presently flipped. The seven-to-nine slots were Seton Hall, Butler and Xavier, a trio that are all tied at 2-7. Finally Providence was expected to finish tenth and is 1-8.

Coming up Clutch
Twice in BIG EAST play this season the Bluejays have entered the final possession of regulation down three: vs. Georgetown (Jan. 8) and again at Seton Hall (Jan. 22). Each time senior Lauren Works answered the call with a game-tying trey to force overtime. The Bluejays went on to win both encounters, 70-68 over Georgetown and 70-60 against the Pirates.

Bluejays Perched on NCAA Branch
With nine games remaining in the regular season, Creighton has worked its way into consideration for an at-large berth at 14-5. Entering the weekend the Bluejays are projected to make the field by ESPN's Charlie Creme as well as RealTimeRPI.com

Creme has Creighton as a No. 10 seed, while RealTimeRPI lists the Bluejays as a No. 7 seed.

The next four games (vs. #21 DePaul, vs. Marquette, at Villanova and at Georgetown) will go a long way in deciding if the branch the Bluejays sit upon remains strong (NCAA) or another tree (WNIT) is in Creighton's future.

Taking time to Defend the Roses
One of the most important benefits of joining the BIG EAST for head coach Jim Flanery and the WBB staff is the opportunity to help his players develop as individuals off the court.

To that end the Bluejays try to take advantage of the rich culture provided during their travels.

This season that desire brought the Bluejays to Gleason's Gym as the team participation in self defense session at the famous training gym that helped produce an impressive list of boxers including Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.

In the past the Bluejays have spent time at the Liberty Bell (2015-16), the Statue of Liberty (2014-15), the Smithsonian as well as the Holocaust Museum (2013-14) to name a few stops.

Academically Inclined
The BIG EAST leader in the classroom during the 2015-16, with the best collective GPA in the conference at 3.49, is at it again this year. Three Bluejays (Kylie Brown, Syndey Lamberty and Bailey Norby) posted 4.00 GPAs in the fall and seven members of the squad qualified for the CoSida Academic All-American nominations with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3.

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Players Mentioned

Kylie Brown

MC McGrory

Bailey Norby

Jade Owens

Lauren Works