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The Big East’s two top-25 teams, DePaul and Marquette, both won their season debuts. However, they won in very different ways.
On Friday, DePaul won their season opener against perennial mid-major power Green Bay, 91-82. Though the Blue Demons came out victorious, they were behind for much of the game and started the fourth quarter with a 53-51 deficit and were down 61-53 with under eight minutes left.
At that point, DePaul’s offense clicked and they went on a 17-0 run. Rebekah Dahlman led the Blue Demons with 21 points while Ashton Millender scored 15 more. For the Phoenix, Frankie Wurtz scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Marquette cruised to a 91-52 win over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, also a perennial mid-major power, last Tuesday. Natisha Hiedeman scored 21 points to lead the Golden Eagles while Tagyn Larson was the only South Dakota State player to score in double figures, putting up 10 points. The Golden Eagles outscored the Jackrabbits in each quarter in what was a comfortable victory.
Marquette is now 2-0 after a 100-52 blowout win over Montana State in the first round of the Preseason WNIT last Friday. Meanwhile, DePaul is gearing up for an early season test against the No. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish next week.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Big East Conference’s teams have done very well as a whole. Every team except Providence has at least one victory. In Providence’s case, they lost 74-72 to Penn State on the road.
Games of the week
Seton Hall Pirates at Princeton Tigers
When: Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. ET
Where: Jadwin Gymnasium, Princeton, NJ
How to watch: ESPN+
Notes: The Seton Hall Pirates are trying to get back to the NCAA Tournament this season after a two-year absence. They will face a tough test against intra-state foe Princeton. The Tigers won seven of the last nine Ivy League championships and this year doesn’t appear as if it will be any different.
No. 15 DePaul Blue Demons vs. No. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
When: Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. ET
Where: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL
How to watch: DePaul All-Access
Notes: The defending national champions will take a short road trip into Chicago to play the Big East’s perennial power. In last season’s meeting, the Irish won 91-82 as Jessica Shepard scored a career high 39 points in the contest. Expect the Blue Demons to make sure that doesn’t happen again. The only bad part is that this game is not on television.