by Rogabee
Butler (17-11, #105 RPI) at Duquesne (21-6, #35 RPI)
Seniors Vanessa Abel, Jocelyn Floyd, and Ahjah Hall will (hopefully) be playing their last game at the Palumbo Center in their careers. It's been a great four years for the four seniors, also counting Carly Vendemia, who missed this year to injury. Vanessa, Jocelyn, Ahjah, and Carly became the senior class with the most wins in DU history. They had four straight twenty-win seasons, something only one other class ever at Duquesne could say. It's been a fabulous run for these four seniors who deserve your support for senior night. A special thank you to the seniors from me...it's been a pleasure watching you the last four years become the most decorated class in DU women's history.
However, their run is not over yet. They certainly have the A10 tourney ahead of them, and then either the NCAA tournament or NIT. Butler for senior night will hopefully be a stepping stone (and a needed well-played full game) for the Dukes to get ready for the A10 tournament.
This game is almost a can't lose game for NCAA purposes. The Dukes according to my bracketology are one of the last 4-5 teams in the NCAA tournament prior to the game. (Does anybody want to dance? Looking at Saturday night, the answer is no...)
Scouting the Opponent: Butler
Butler's top three players are all transfers from BCS schools.
Daress McClung, a transfer from Cincy, is the leader of the team. The 6-0 forward is an absolute terror on both ends of the floor. McClung averages 17 ppg, 9 rpg, 2.3 spg, and 2.4 bpg as a statsheet stuffer. The key with Daress is that she's not only a banger inside, but can also step out and make jumpers and threes. She also has a nasty dribble-drive that she can dish or score from. I'd feel confident in this game if we had Orsi's defense, but without it Daress could go off and put up a huge number on the Dukes.
Taylor Schippers (Ok. State transfer) is Butler's PG and shooting specialist who has been in a major slump lasting the majority of the season. She can go off in bunches, though I doubt DU lets her.
Liz Stratman (Xavier transfer) missed the first half the year after being forced to sit out half the year due to transfer rules. She plays at center and dominates the paint on D with McClung. A very good inside defender, the weak spot appeared to be that she went for blocks too often on D rather than putting herself in better rebounding position when it appeared obvious she wasn't going to get the block. It still will be tough for DU to get points in the paint against McClung and Stratman.
Hannah Douglas, Mandy McDivitt, and Amanda Raker round out the starting rotation, with Stratman often not starting. The trio of Douglas, McDivitt, and Raker all are typically role players and nothing more.
Hope to see you supporting the seniors for Senior Night.
Rogabee
