Anna Martin was asked Thursday night at the student pep rally about how she would like to finish her basketball career at DePaul. The senior said that she wants her team to go to the Final Four.
DePaul’s women’s basketball program has never made it past the Sweet 16, but it’s this same ambition that allowed Maggie Dixon to lead her Army Knights to their first ever postseason appearance in 2006, the same year DePaul made it to their first ever Sweet Sixteen.
Dixon, who coached under head coach Doug Bruno for five seasons at DePaul, passed away soon after the 2006 season due to a heart arrhythmia. The Blue Demons opened their 2012 -2013 campaign honoring the late coach in the Maggie Dixon Classic, winning their opening game against Nicholls State 87-57 at McGrath-Phillips Arena Friday night.
“I never got a chance to meet Maggie, but from the impression she left at DePaul, she was a phenomenal person,” said Martin. “It’s an honor to play in this tournament, and tonight was a great way to start our season.”
The No. 25 Blue Demons never expected the Colonels to test them like they did to begin the game. Led by junior KK Babin, the Colonels set the tone early, stealing the spotlight from the Blue Demons for the first portion of the opening half. Babin scored six of her team’s first eight points to begin the game. The Colonels came out with an intense 2 -3 zone that forced DePaul to commit nine turnovers in the half. Babin tied the game at 12 with a 3-pointer with 13 minutes left to send a message to the Blue Demons early.
Fortunately for DePaul, Brittany Hrynko never got the memo.
Hrynko, despite her team’s dismal start, hit four of her eight shots in the half, all threes, to allow a Blue Demon run. After being tied at 12, the Blue Demons under Hrynko sprinted out to a 20 -8 run. Aside from scoring, Hrynko was also able to find her targets in Kelsey Reynolds and Chanise Jenkins, who combined for 14 in the half.
“I was really impressed by how Britt is learning how to manage a game,” said Bruno. “It’s not just beating your defender and making a beautiful play. She is doing the whole job of managing a team.”
On the rebounding end, Harry struggled early. Nicholls State’s zone defense clogged the paint area for the first seven minutes of the half, leaving the senior overmatched. Harry later outworked her opponents inside and collect eight rebounds in the first half. Five of these eight were done on the offensive end, where the senior was able to capitalize on put-backs. She finished the half with 10 points and 8 boards, despite the rocky start. Harry was assisted by freshman Megan Podkowa and Brandi Harvey-Carr, who combined for eight boards. DePaul out-rebounded Nicholls State 28 -16, and go into halftime leading 48 -27.
In the second the Colonels attempted to cut the lead, but the resilience of DePaul’s bench left Nicholls State vulnerable. The Blue Demons capitalized on 15 turnovers in the second half that turned into 21 points. Jasmine Penny, who went scoreless in the first, added eight off the bench. Podkowa, who did most of her work on the boards in the first, came back in the second to score seven.
“I thought Megan Podkowa came off the bench and played well,” said Bruno.
Podkowa finished with nine points and nine rebounds.
Martin had an unusual shooting night going 0 -6 from beyond the arc. The senior went 5 -12 in the game, finishing with 14 points, seven assists and three steals.
“I wouldn’t say I was rusty,” said Martin. “But I like using the preseason games to get ready for the regular season. I’m hoping to play better tomorrow night.”
