Sydney Jaynes is averaging 10.8 points per game since being named starter on Dec. 29. Photo by Jonathan Wang. 

DAVID JACOBS | SPORTS CO-EDITOR | [email protected] 

After dropping two conference games in a row, the women’s basketball team will look to defend its home court in a rematch against DePaul on Jan. 26. 

Here is what you need to know before Butler takes on the Blue Demons. 

Who: Butler vs. DePaul

When: Jan. 26, 2 p.m.

Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse 

How to watch: BEDN 

A month of change and challenge 

The first game between the Dawgs and Blue Demons resulted in a 66-43 victory for DePaul, marking the beginning of a 2-6 stretch for a Butler team that has seen lots of change in the rotation. 

Sophomores Riley Makalusky and Cristen Carter were still starting at shooting guard and center, respectively, in the first match-up against DePaul. Since then, the two have been benched in favor of first-year guard Lily Carmody and senior forward Sydney Jaynes. 

With the new pair in the starting lineup, the Dawgs are 2-3 — including losses of three to Marquette and one to Xavier — marking just how close Butler could be to fighting for a first-round bye in the conference tournament. 

Still just 2.5 games back from an elusive top-five seeding, the Dawgs will need to have an excellent finish to the regular season — beginning with the game ahead against DePaul. 

Scouting the Blue Demons 

DePaul is just 10-11 on the season thanks to a brutal non-conference slate. But thanks to a 5-3 in conference play the Blue Demons are sitting comfortably toward the top of the conference. 

Graduate forward Jorie Allen leads the Demons in every statistical category except for rebounding — pouring in a stat line of 19 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal and half a block each game. 

In the first bout between the two teams, the Dawgs held Allen in check with just 12 points on 4-18 shooting from the field. However, Allen would snag 10 rebounds and dish out seven assists to help the Demons record 11 second-chance points and outrebound the Bulldogs 43-31. 

The Dawgs held DePaul to just a 39% field goal percentage — typically a winning defensive effort. However, with Butler shooting an abysmal 32% from the field the effort became moot. 

It was DePaul’s second-leading scorer — junior guard Taylor Johnson-Matthews — who poured in 22 points on 50% shooting in the first matchup.

While it is a tall task, holding Allen and Johnson-Matthews in check will be critical in securing a much-needed conference win. 

Expect Carmody and sophomore guard Karsyn Norman to have the main responsibility of guarding Johnson-Matthews. Senior guard Kilyn McGuff and Jaynes will have the assignment to guard Allen. 

With DePaul boasting just a 3-5 record on the road, a Sunday matinee in Hinkle Fieldhouse could be all the help the Dawgs need to secure this much-needed Big East upset.