Governor Quinn Proclaims DePaul Women's Basketball Day in Illinois

WHEREAS, the contributions of collegiate sport in the national community foster a sense of inspiration and pride within our schools, our towns, our states and the country; and,

WHEREAS, the State of Illinois has the opportunity to celebrate basketball, to recognize the contributions of sport, and to showcase the sportsmanship of a diverse group of young women who came together and achieved their goals; and,

WHEREAS, on March 12, 2012, the DePaul University Blue Demons Women’s Basketball team, led by head coach Doug Bruno, were selected as the Number 7 seed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Annual Tournament Bracket; and,

WHEREAS, the DePaul University Blue Demons have been chosen for this honor consecutively for the past ten years, and seventeen times total since 1990, making the 2012 team part of one of the most successful collegiate athletic programs in the state and the country; and,

WHEREAS, the DePaul University Blue Demons were the only Division I team in men’s or women’s basketball in the state of Illinois to be selected to the NCAA Championship Tournament; and,

WHEREAS, the DePaul University Blue Demons showed their character, their determination and their talent by qualifying for the tournament despite losing five players to season-ending injuries; and,

WHEREAS, DePaul University Blue Demons head coach Doug Bruno has led the women’s basketball team for 26 years, reaching the NCAA second round seven times and the “Sweet 16” twice, in 2006 and 2011; and,

WHEREAS, in addition to tremendous coaching, the DePaul University Blue Demons showed their extraordinary teamwork with a 22-10 record for the 2011-2012 season; and,

WHEREAS, the DePaul University Blue Demons, with senior Deanna Ortiz, juniors Anna Martin and Katherine Harry, sophomores Jasmine Penny and Kelsey Reynolds and freshmen Megan Rogowski, Brittany Hrynko and Karima Gabriel will play the first round against number 10 seed Brigham Young University on Saturday, March 17; and,

THEREFORE, I, Pat Quinn, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby commend the DePaul University Blue Demons women's basketball team and Coach Doug Bruno for their spirit, determination and their outstanding teamwork and do hereby proclaim March 15, 2012 as DEPAUL UNIVERSITY BLUE DEMONS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DAY in Illinois and encourage all residents to support them as they move forward in the NCAA Tournament.