Jasmine Penny was named Big East Player of the Week for the first time in her collegiate career Monday, in large due to a strong 29-point performance at Bradley.
How would she follow up that honor? By repeating with another strong performance.
Penny scored 27 points and DePaul women’s basketball came away with an 87-60 win over Xavier Wednesday in the team’s first Big East game of the season.
“Me coming out relaxed and ready to play, lets me focus on my shots,” Penny said. “The guards did a great job of getting me the ball.”
DePaul (10-3, 1-0) extended its win streak to six as the Blue Demons dominated in the second half. The team forced 16 of Xavier’s 25 turnovers after halftime.
“This was a really important home win,” head coach Doug Bruno said. “In the Big East, you have to take care of your home wins.”
Penny was a force inside and shot a staggering 78 percent (11-14). The senior made 10 of DePaul’s first 17 points and the Blue Demons would take an early nine point lead in the first eight minutes.
“Jazz is a really special player to coach,” Bruno said. “As much as I love all these players, she never misses a practice. She’s just so easy to coach.”
The Blue Demons would go up 25-10 with eight minutes left in the first half. Xavier (5-8, 0-1) fought back and cut DePaul’s lead to six, trailing 32-26.
DePaul led 41-30 at halftime.
Xavier came rushing out in the second half, opening with a 6-0 in the first two minutes. DePaul answered back with a Brittany Hrynko three pointer.
The Blue Demons went on a 17-2 run to give themselves a 68-46 lead.
Hrynko finished with 19 points and three assists. She had a pair of back-to-back three pointers in DePaul’s run.
“I was just taking what the defense was giving me,” Hrynko said. “I wasn’t trying to force my shots.”
Jessica January also had a solid game, scoring 13 points while grabbing four rebounds. Bruno said he is pleased with how his bench is coming along.
“I thought when we got out to (Las Vegas) we were able to find a rotation,” Bruno said, referencing DePaul’s three game road trip in Las Vegas. “Jess can sub in for Britt or she could sub in for Chanise (Jenkins). It’s not edged in stone, but we could have three quick athletic guards in there at one time. “
DePaul now goes on the road to face Creighton on Saturday. This will be the first meeting between the teams as part of the Big East. Creighton (8-6) was voted to finish second behind DePaul in a preseason Big East poll.
“It’s not like we’re brothers who have been playing in the driveway,” Bruno said. “We don’t know. Last year they smacked Syracuse in the NCAA tournament, a team people thought could end up in the final four. That’s who we’re going up against next. They’re really good.”