By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Former Bedford North Lawrence star and 2019 Miss Basketball Jorie Allen announced she is transferring to DePaul University.
Allen, who left Indiana University after one season, will join a program that went 28-5 in 2019-20 and won its sixth Big East regular-season title in the last seven years.
Allen played in 32 games for the Hoosiers last season, averaging 1.9 points and 1.8 rebounds. Unhappy with that level of playing time and her role with Teri Moren’s program, she announced her departure from IU on April 5.
After sitting out one season because of NCAA transfer rules, she will be a huge addition to the Blue Demons.
“I am so incredibly excited to continue my career at DePaul,” Allen said. “Coach (Doug) Bruno recruited me when I was still in high school, and DePaul was one of my top choices from the beginning. I now see that this is where I was meant to be, so I’m grateful he still believes in me and fortunate to be a part of his program.”
Allen averaged 18.1 points and 8.0 rebounds as a senior for the Stars. She also contributed 17.1 points and 8.0 boards as a junior, 17.7 points and 10.3 rebounds as a sophomore and 16.1 points as a freshmen. She is the school’s all-time scoring leader with 1,930 points and the second Miss Basketball in school history.
“We are very excited that Jorie Allen has chosen to continue her college basketball career with our DePaul program,” Bruno said. “Jorie combines an extremely high level of competitiveness, hoops IQ, and an overdrive motor with a very versatile offensive skill set.
“She is a classic position-less player who can be effective scoring and distributing the ball from any of the five positions on the floor. Along with her versatility with the ball, Jorie does a great job of moving and scoring without the ball.”
BNL coach Jeff Allen, Jorie’s father, also played for DePaul.
DePaul also won its third straight Big East tournament title last year and clinched its 18th straight NCAA tournament appearance. The Blue Demons finished 15th in the final women’s basketball poll. They were on track to host the first two rounds of the tournament when the NCAA cancelled the women’s national championship on March 12 because of the current coronavirus epidemic.
“Because of the values (Coach Bruno), his staff, and his players hold, I’ll feel right at home,” Allen said. “I’m excited about what attributes I can bring to the program—but I’m even more excited about what I will learn from those around me.
“Coach Bruno has done so much for the game of basketball and has established this historic and elite program. Like coach Bruno, my dad and my uncle played at DePaul under coach Ray Meyer, so I understand the rich basketball history of this university and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
