WBB Notes - 12.18 Update
Saturday Slate
A busy Saturday for BIG EAST women’s basketball awaits as four league contests are set to tip off. Three games will stream live on the BIG EAST Digital Network presented by SoFi, available on FloSports, while the battle between No. 3/5 UConn and Xavier at 1 p.m. ET will air on SNY. The Huskies-Musketeers tilt is one of three games at 1 p.m., along with Creighton at RV/- Villanova and St. John’s at Providence. Georgetown makes its season debut to round out the afternoon when the Hoyas travel to No. 24/23 DePaul at 3 p.m. For more on all four matchups, see below.
 
Why We’re Watching …
Creighton at RV/- Villanova (1 p.m. BEDN on FloSports): The Bluejays (2-4, 1-1 BIG EAST) had found their scoring spark with the return of Tatum Rembao, but were stifled at UConn on Thursday night. Creighton will face another tall task on the road on Saturday with the BIG EAST’s No. 2 scorer and top rebounder Maddy Siegrist, who leads an undefeated (6-0, 1-0) Villanova squad which is winning on average by more than 15 points per game. Rembao is averaging 11.7 points in her first three games back in the lineup, while Temi Carda leads Creighton with a 13.5 clip.
St. John’s at Providence (1 p.m. BEDN on FloSports): This will mark the Friars’ first game since Dec. 10 and they’ll have to lock down the BIG EAST’s No. 1 scorer in Leilani Correa. Correa eclipsed the 30-point mark for the fifth time in her young career on Wednesday at Marquette, while her 23.0 season average ranks 20^th nationally. Providence (3-4, 1-1) has the No. 3 scoring defense in the BIG EAST, allowing just 60.3 points per game, while boasting some of the top 3-point shooters in the conference based off of percentage (Chanell Williams, .636) and makes per game (Kyra Spiwak, 2.0). The Friars have had the Red Storm’s number recently, winning four of the last six regular-season meetings, all of which have been decided by six points or less. St. John’s enters the contest 2-4 on the year, 0-2 in the BIG EAST.
Xavier at 3/5 UConn (1 p.m., SNY): Newcomers will be on display at Gampel Pavilion on Saturday. The Huskies’ Paige Bueckers has stuffed the stat sheet in her first three collegiate contests, averaging 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and .657 shooting. Xavier’s Kae Satterfield is averaging 11.8 points and 8.8 rebounds, tied with teammate A’riana Gray for the No. 2 slot in rebounding in the BIG EAST. Satterfield is an Ohio State transfer in her first season in Cincinnati. This will be just the second all-time meeting between the two programs. UConn is 3-0 on the year, winners of its first two BIG EAST games, while Xavier is 3-1 and has yet to play a league contest.
Georgetown at 24/23 DePaul (3 p.m. BEDN on FloSports): The Hoyas hit the ground running as their 2020-21 opener will be at the reigning BIG EAST Tournament and regular-season champions. Georgetown has yet to play a game this season. The Blue Demons are coming off their biggest win in a handful of seasons, knocking off No. 9/9 Kentucky on Wednesday to improve to 3-2 on the year. This marks their first BIG EAST contest of the season. Sonya Morris is leading the 24^th-ranked Blue Demons through the first five games, averaging 19.8 points off .458 shooting.
 
Last Night In #BIGEASTwbb
3/5 UConn 80, Creighton 47  
Olivia Nelson-Ododa was a perfect 9-for-9 from the floor Thursday in leading the third-ranked Huskies to an 80-47 home win over Creighton. Her 24 points were three shy of her career high. Nelson-Ododa has opened the season scoring in double digits in all three games. UConn opened the game on an 8-0 run before Paige Bueckers gave the Huskies their first double-digit lead at 18-7 by following up her own miss. That was part of a 23-0 run over just under nine minutes that saw the Huskies take control of the game. Bueckers finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The Bluejays were led by Emma Ronsiek’s 11 points.
Full Recap
 
This Week In The BIG EAST
Saturday
CREIGHTON at RV/- VILLANOVA, 1 p.m. BEDN on FloSports
MARQUETTE at SETON HALL, 1 p.m. Stats BEDN on FloSports
ST. JOHN’S at PROVIDENCE, 1 p.m. Stats BEDN on FloSports
XAVIER at 3/5 UCONN, 1 p.m.^ Stats
GEORGETOWN at 24/23 DePAUL, 3 p.m. Stats BEDN on FloSports
All Times Eastern
^SNY