WBB Notes - 12.28.18
League Play Liftoff
Conference play for BIG EAST women’s basketball teams gets underway this weekend as all 10 squads return to the court. FS2 will cover a showdown between two of the hottest teams in the league when Butler visits Villanova on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs have a BIG EAST-best 10 non-conference wins, highlighted by a double-digit victory over Ohio State last week. The Wildcats are tied with No. 19/20 DePaul for the BIG EAST’s longest active winning streak at five games. Villanova will play its first game in 11 days when it hosts Butler. The eight other games in Round 1 of conference play will stream live on the BIG EAST Digital Network, beginning Saturday at 3 p.m. when No. 22/19 Marquette hosts Providence. Xavier at Georgetown follows at 5 p.m., before the Blue Demons host Creighton to cap the night (8 p.m.). Rivals St. John’s and Seton Hall tangle on Sunday at 1 p.m. in South Orange, N.J., before four more games on New Year’s Eve conclude the first set of conference contests.
Non-Conference Conclusion
Just one non-league game remains (Villanova at Penn, Jan. 16) but BIG EAST teams have already combined for their finest regular season non-conference showing since league realignment. BIG EAST teams combined for an 80-32 mark for its most wins and highest winning percentage since 2012-13. The BIG EAST is the third-ranked conference in the latest NCAA RPI, up one from No. 4 the previous two weeks.
Why We’re Watching …
Providence at 22/19 Marquette (Saturday, 3 p.m., BEDN): The Friars have won three straight as the relatively young squad has continued to gel as the season progresses. Three of their top five scorers are freshmen or sophomores, including Chanell Williams who is posting 10.3 points per game. Senior Jovana Nogic, the top three-point threat in PC history, will need to be firing on all cylinders in Milwaukee against one the nation’s top scoring teams. All five of MU’s starters are 1,000-point scorers, while BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Allazia Blockton is 17 shy of 2,000 for her career. The nationally ranked Golden Eagles are 7-1 at home this season.
Xavier at Georgetown (Saturday, 5 p.m., BEDN): The youngest team in the BIG EAST is visiting one of the most veteran. A’riana Gray is having a breakout sophomore year for the Musketeers as she is averaging a double-double, including a league-high 10.1 rebounds per game. The Hoyas have three of the top scorers in the conference as senior Dionna White and grad students Dorothy Adomako and Mikayla Venson are all averaging in double figures.
Butler at Villanova (Saturday, 8 p.m., FS2): The Bulldogs have raced out of the gate, winning 10 non-conference games, including their first six for their finest start since 1990-91. While the duo of Tori Schickel and Whitey Jennings is no secret, reigning BIG EAST Player of the Week Michelle Weaver is deserving of the spotlight as well. Kelly Jekot, Mary Gedaka and Adrianna Hahn are equally as dangerous for Villanova as all three are scoring in double figures. Scoring may be at a premium on Saturday as the Bulldogs and Wildcats are the two stingiest teams in the BIG EAST as only one opponent has scored more than 70 between the two teams.
Creighton at 19/20 DePaul (Saturday, 8 p.m., BEDN): The nationally ranked Blue Demons have won five straight and have reached the 100-point mark three times this year. While a trio of veterans are averaging double figures, some fresh faces have the potential to lead the way. Senior Rebekah Dahlman will play in her first BIG EAST game on Saturday and has started the last five games for DePaul, including Thursday’s win at Loyola Chicago where she reached double figures for the fourth time this season. Blue Demon rookie Lexi Held is the only repeat BIG EAST Freshman of the Week so far this year. After losing four of five games in November, Creighton turned things around to win five of six in December. Three of November’s losses came with Jaylyn Agnew sidelined with an injury, but the junior is back now and stronger than ever. Not to mention, the Bluejays have the BIG EAST’s No. 2 scorer in Audrey Faber.
St. John’s at Seton Hall (Sunday, 1 p.m., BEDN): Longtime rivals face each other on opening weekend and eye a statement win right out of the gate. Both were picked in the lower half of the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll but have shown in the non-conference portion that they may have been overlooked. The Pirates have gotten a giant boost from Shadeen Samuels who is having a breakout junior campaign, ranking third in the BIG EAST in both scoring and rebounding. Reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Qadashah Hoppie is proving there’s no sophomore slump as the guard is leading St. John’s with a 12.0 scoring average. Hoppie is leading a trio of double-figure scoring guards for the Red Storm.
Upcoming Schedule
Saturday - Dec. 29
Providence at 22/19 Marquette, 3 p.m.#*
Xavier at Georgetown, 5 p.m.#*
Butler at Villanova, 8 p.m.+*
Creighton at 19/20 DePaul, 8 p.m.#*
Sunday - Dec. 30
St. John’s at Seton Hall, 1 p.m.#*
Monday - Dec. 31
Butler at Georgetown, 1 p.m.#*
Xavier at Villanova, 1 p.m.#*
Creighton at 22/19 Marquette, 3 p.m.#*
Providence at 19/20 DePaul, 3 p.m.#*
*BIG EAST contest
+FS2
All Times Eastern