Friday’s Key Matchups
Brooke Schulte (DePaul) vs. Marissa Janning (Creighton): Schulte tacked the Bluejays for 30 points and six rebounds as nationally ranked DePaul topped Creighton in Chicago earlier this year. The Blue Demon senior has averaged a league-high 23.1 points per game in BIG EAST play, with no indication of slowing down. Janning has averaged 15.0 points over her last four games. She totaled 15 points and four boards in the setback to DePaul on Jan. 4, and is coming off 13 points, seven assists and six boards at Seton Hall on Sunday. No. 21/19 DePaul and -/RV Creighton tip off at 8 p.m. (ET) on FS1 to decide first place in the BIG EAST standings.
Raeshaun Gaffney (Xavier) vs. JaQuan Jackson (Seton Hall): A matchup Gaffney is looking forward to, the redshirt-senior totaled a career-high 33 points against Seton Hall on Jan. 4 as Xavier edged the Pirates 72-64. Gaffney has scored in double figures in 16 of 18 games this year to rank fifth in the BIG EAST in scoring at 15.7 per contest. Jackson, the league’s No. 4 scorer at 15.9 per game, will look to get The Hall back on track and show that her nine-point outing against the Musketeers was out of character. The redshirt-junior will keep Gaffney on her toes as Jackson ranks second in the league in steals at 2.1 per game. Tipoff in South Orange, N.J., is set for 7 p.m. on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
Tori Schickel (Butler) vs. Jade Walker (St. John’s): Reigning BIG EAST Player of the Week Schickel posted her second 20-point, 20-rebound game of the season last Friday and averaged 25.0 points, 17.5 rebounds in last week for the Bulldogs. She was held to just 10 points and eight boards against the Red Storm earlier this season. Walker is the conference’s No. 4 scorer at 16.8 points per game but scored just six in St. John’s 62-41 win over Butler on Jan. 5. The senior is shooting lights out in BIG EAST play, draining over 53 percent of her attempts. Tipoff in Queens, N.Y., is 7 p.m. on BEDN.
Allazia Blockton (Marquette) vs. Sarah Beal (Providence): The league’s leading scorer overall (17.5), Blockton has found more success in road games this season, averaging 20.4 in eight road tilts. She went for 18 points and five dimes against Providence three weeks ago. Beal had one of her best games of the year against the Golden Eagles, totaling 24 points five rebounds and two steals. The senior is averaging 15.0 points over her last three games, including 21 at St. John’s on Sunday. Tipoff in Providence is set for 7 p.m. on BEDN.
Up Next
In the lone Saturday contest, Villanova travels to Georgetown at 1 p.m. (ET). It was all Wildcats in Game 1 of the season series with Villanova winning 71-50 at The Pavilion. Adrianna Hahn scored 23 points, including a 5-of-11 clip from deep. Dionna White led Georgetown with 18 points and five steals. Both squads have caught fire as of late with Villanova winning its last five tilts and the Hoyas winning their last three. The game will stream live on BEDN.
Weekend Schedule
Friday
Xavier at Seton Hall, 7 p.m.*#
Butler at St. John’s, 7 p.m.*#
RV/RV Marquette at Providence 7 p.m.*#
21/19 DePaul at -/RV Creighton, 8 p.m.*^
Saturday
Villanova at Georgetown, 1 p.m.*#
Sunday
21/19 DePaul at Providence 1 p.m.*#
Butler at Seton Hall, 2 p.m.*#
RV/RV Marquette at -/RV Creighton, 2 p.m.*#
Xavier at St. John’s (at MSG), 3 p.m.*#
All times Eastern
*BIG EAST contest
#BEDN
^FS1