Women’s basketball: Bonnies and DePaul set for preseason WNIT clash

By Katie Faulkner @kfaulkner20

After a first round win over Siena on Friday night, St. Bonaventure will continue its run in the Preseason WNIT at 5 p.m. on Sunday at 22nd-ranked DePaul.

The Blue Demons enter the 2015-2016 season as the preseason favorite in the Big East. Last year, they posted a 27-8 record and won the Big East Tournament. They led the Big East in points with 86 a game and averaged a conference-best 12.3 steals per game.

DePaul returns three of its starters from last season, seniors Megan Podkowa and Chanise Jenkins and junior Jessica January. However, the Blue Demons are without Brittany Hrynko, last season’s Big East Player of the Year, who averaged 19.1 points per game.

Sophomore Miranda Drummond fueled the Bonnies offense in the 57-40 win Friday night with a game-high 15 points, while senior Katie Healy recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Siena was held to just 6.3 percent shooting (1-for-16) from behind the arc.

Eight teams have moved onto the second round of the WNIT Championship, including four nationally ranked teams in DePaul, Baylor, USF and Chattanooga.