Off To An Early Start
Seven BIG EAST teams will take advantage of the early calendar and tip off their 2018-19 women’s basketball seasons before the weekend, including a trio on Tuesday. No. 19/19 Marquette takes the court first at 12:30 p.m. ET as the nationally ranked Golden Eagles host an always competitive South Dakota State squad, which Villanova eliminated from the NCAA Tournament this past March. Seton Hall follows at 2 p.m. when the Pirates welcome Wagner to Walsh Gym, while Georgetown wraps up opening day at Richmond at 7 p.m. Action continues Wednesday with three games, all at 7 p.m., including South Dakota at Creighton, Hartford at -/RV Villanova and Chicago State at Xavier. Providence wraps up the early games when it visits Penn State on Thursday (7 p.m.).
Preseason National Polls
BIG EAST preseason co-favorites DePaul and Marquette start the season nationally ranked, marking the second consecutive season the Conference has had multiple teams ranked in the preseason. The Blue Demons led the way at No. 15 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the
USA Today Coaches Poll. The Golden Eagles followed at No. 19 in both polls. Coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013, Villanova received votes in the coaches poll.
Watch Lists
Seven BIG EAST players were named to national award watch lists, including three in the running as the nation’s top shooting guard. The Nancy Lieberman Award which recognizes the top point guard had DePaul’s Kelly Campbell on the watch list, while the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard honor saw Georgetown’s Dionna White, Marquette’s Allazia Blockton and Providence’s Jovana Nogic all in the running. The Cheryl Miller Award which recognizes the top small forward had DePaul’s Mart’e Grays and Erika Davenport listed, while Creighton’s Audrey Faber rounded out the honorees on the Katrina McClain Award Watch List for power forwards. Watch Lists will be narrowed down in mid-February. For the full list of Watch List members and past honorees, visit HoopHallAwards.com.
BIG EAST Preseason Recap
After finishing last season as regular season co-champions and winning the last two BIG EAST Tournament titles, DePaul and Marquette were picked as co-favorites to win the 2018-19 conference crown. MU’s Allazia Blockton was unanimously selected as BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, with Blockton entering the season as the reigning Player and Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Marquette led all teams with three Preseason All-BIG EAST picks, while DePaul and Creighton, which was selected fourth in the preseason poll, had two honorees each. Villanova was voted third and Georgetown fifth to round out the top five, while both had preseason all-league selections in Mary Gedaka and Dionna White, respectively. DePaul, Marquette, Villanova and Creighton are all coming off 2018 NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the Second Round, while the Hoyas, St. John’s (sixth) and Seton Hall (eighth) all played in the WNIT, with the Red Storm advancing to the Quarterfinals.
Midweek Schedule
Tuesday
South Dakota State at 19/19 MARQUETTE, 12:30 p.m. (GoMarquette.Com)
Wagner at SETON HALL, 2 p.m. (SHUPirates.com)
GEORGETOWN at Richmond, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Wednesday
South Dakota at CREIGHTON, 7 p.m. (GoCreighton.com)
Hartford at -/RV VILLANOVA, 7 p.m. (Villanova.com)
Chicago State at XAVIER, 7 p.m. (GoXavier.com)
Thursday
Providence at Penn State, 7 p.m. (BTN+)
All times Eastern