2012-13 DEPAUL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Great Midwest Conference
In 1991-92, DePaul was a charter member of the Great Midwest Conference. DePaul won the tournament titles in 1992 and 1993.
Rita Hale
London 2012 Olympics
Doug Bruno etched his name into the 2012 Olympic record book when he helped the USA Women’s National Team capture its five consecutive gold medal in London. Bruno served as an assistant coach under head coach Geno Auriemma (Connecticut) while Jennifer Gillom (Washington Mystics) and Marynell Meadors (Atlanta Dream) were the team’s two other assistants.
One of two people along with Doug Bruno to be associated with all seven of DePaul’s NCAA Tournament teams in the 1990’s. Hale played on four of those teams and was an assistant coach on the other three. Hale led the 199192 and 1992-93 teams in scoring and rebounding.
Beth Hassenmiller
A three-time team captain, she owns the school record for points in a game when she tossed in 42 to lead the Blue Demons past Valparaiso in the title game of the 1991 North Star Conference Tournament. That win gave DePaul its first automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Inducted into DePaul’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009
Hawai’i
The Blue Demons made their initial voyage to Hawai’i in December of 1997, spending six days in Honolulu while playing in the Hawai’i Invitational. DePaul took second in the tournament, beating San Francisco in the opening round and losing to Hawai’i in the final. The team returned to the islands in November 2003 and finished fifth in the eight-team Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic before capturing the 2006 Rainbow Wahine Classic with victories over Eastern Michigan, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. The Blue Demons made their fourth trip to the Island in 2011 and took second place in the Jack in the Box Rainbow/Wahnie Classic. The team’s 2011 trip saw the Blue Demons take a private tour of Pearl Harbor and participate in a polynesian-themed boat cruise along the shores of Honolulu.
Anne McDonals
In 1998-99, Anne McDonald became the first GTE/ Academic All-American as selected by CoSIDA in the program’s history when she was named to the third team.
McGrath-Phillips Arena
Renamed McGrath-Phillips on Feb. 20 after spending the previous four and a half seasons as “McGrath Arena”, DePaul honored one of its most generous athletic benefactors -- Joni Phillips by adding her named after McGrath. The arena was renamed on McGrath Arena in July 2006 after the Blue Demons moved into this facility in April of 2000. The home of DePaul women’s basketball seats 3,000 fans and boasts luxurious locker rooms, upgraded facilities of both sports medicine and weight training, along with larger and more efficient office space for the staff. The facility debuted as the DePaul Athletic Center on November 24, 2000, when the Blue Demons defeated Morgan State, 103-47, in the Moran Realty Classic. In 12 seasons, the Blue Demons are 148-23 (.865) which ranks among the highest home winning percentages in the country among all active arenas. Entering the 2012-13 season, McGrath-Phillips Arena ranks as the seventh toughest arena to play at in the country.
Patti Hie
The first DePaul player to lead the team in scoring in two different seasons (1975-76, 1976-77). She later served as an assistant coach from 1983-85 and is a member of the DePaul Hall of Fame.
January 21, 1975
The date of the first women’s basketball game in DePaul history. The Blue Demons drilled Mundelein, 62-17. Since that game, DePaul has gone on to win 705 games. (705404 overall)
Jean Lenti Ponsetto
The only four-time team captain in school history, she has been associated with DePaul women’s basketball as a player, assistant coach and administrator. Currently, DePaul’s Director of Athletics, Jean was the chair of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament selection committee from 1996-98 and was the chair of the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition cabinet.
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Ray Meyer
The person most associated with DePaul University passed away in March 2006 at the age of 92. In 42 seasons from 1942-84, Ray Meyer compiled a career record of 724-354 (.671) and led 13 teams to the NCAA Championship. One of only seven Division I head coaches to win at least 700 games, Meyer was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame