WBB Weekly Release
Non-Conference Conclusion
Nine of 10 BIG EAST women’s basketball teams conclude non-league play this week as conference play tips off Dec. 29 and 31. BIG EAST standings leader Providence (8-1) will play three games in Albuquerque, N.M., at the Lobo Invitational beginning Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET with the host squad New Mexico. The Friars, who are off to their best start since 1990-91, will also face Ball State (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.) and Loyola Marymount (Friday, 6:30 p.m.). Xavier (1-8) will look to end non-league play on a high note when it travels to the West Palm Beach Invitational to face Florida (Friday, 4:45 p.m.) and -/RV Northwestern (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.). Other notable non-conference finales include No. 16/16 DePaul against unbeaten (9-0) Loyola Chicago (Friday, 8 p.m.), -/RV Creighton at RV/RV Arizona State (Friday, 4 p.m.) and -/RV Marquette against Belmont (Saturday, 3 p.m.). BIG EAST teams are a combined 59-39 (.602) in non-conference action with .500 or better records against 20 of 24 leagues faced, including all of the five major football conferences.
In The Polls
DePaul retained its spot at No. 16/16 in both national polls this week, while Creighton received votes in the
USA Today Coaches Poll for a third consecutive week. The Blue Demons have been in the top 25 all season and have been No. 16 in the AP Poll for four consecutive weeks. After a one-week absence, Marquette received votes in the coaches poll for the fifth week this season. In the Tuesday’s NCAA RPI, Creighton took over as the top spot in the BIG EAST, rising three positions to No. 6. DePaul followed at No. 18, while Providence joined the two in the top 50 at No. 43. No. 55 Marquette, No. 61 Seton Hall and No. 73 St. John’s were also in the top 100.
Last Night in #BIGEASTwbb: Marquette 65, South Dakota State 58
-/RV Marquette earned its fourth-consecutive win on Tuesday as the Golden Eagles won at South Dakota State, 65-58. Selena Lott and Chloe Marotta led the way for MU with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Freshmen Jordan King and Camryn Taylor bolstered the Golden Eagles offense with nine points apiece. Marquette (8-2) held the Jackrabbits to just 58 points on the contest to match the Golden Eagles season scoring defense average. MU took 15 points from 20 South Dakota State turnovers and outrebounded the Jackrabbits, 36-28.
Full Recap
Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday
Providence at New Mexico, 9 p.m.
Thursday
Providence vs. Ball State, 6:30 p.m.#
Friday
Lafayette at Seton Hall, Noon
Fairfield at St. John’s, 1 p.m.
Xavier vs. Florida, 2:30 p.m.%
-/RV Creighton at RV/RV Arizona State, 4 p.m.
Providence vs. Loyola Marymount, 6:30 p.m.#
16/16 DePaul at Loyola-Chicago, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Georgetown at UMES, 2 p.m.
Villanova at La Salle, 2:30 p.m.
Xavier vs. -/RV Northwestern, 2:30 p.m.
Belmont at -/RV Marquette, 3 p.m.
Sunday
Purdue Fort Wayne at Butler, 2 p.m.
All times Eastern
^FS1
#Albuquerque, N.M.
%West Palm Beach, Fla.