UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Higher seeds prevailed in the Semifinal Round of the 2021 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament presented by Jeep on Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena as No. 1 seed UConn defeated fifth-seeded Villanova, 84-39, and No. 2 seed Marquette topped sixth-seeded Creighton 64-59. The BIG EAST title game will be a 1-2 affair for the fourth-straight year and 18^th time overall as the Huskies and Golden Eagles meet tomorrow night at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. Monday night’s winner receives the BIG EAST’s automatic bid into the 2021 NCAA Tournament.  Sarah Kustok and Lisa Byington will have the call on FS1.
 
In addition to FS1, Westwood One radio will also cover the title game. The broadcast can be heard on Sirius Channel 84/XM Channel 84, westwoodonesports.com, the Westwood One Channels via the TuneIn mobile app, and on regular radio stations across the country. Lance Medow and Julianne Viani-Braen will have the call.
 
No. 1 seed UConn 84, No. 5 seed Villanova 39
The Huskies recorded the second-largest margin of victory in BIG EAST Tournament history to punch their ticket to the tourney final for the 23^rd time on Sunday. UConn (23-1) held BIG EAST scoring and rebounding champion Maddy Siegrist to a career-low three points and just four rebounds, despite entering the game averaging 23.6 points and 10.4 boards. Christyn Williams scored a game-high 26 points, her highest scoring performance since the Huskies’ win at DePaul on Jan. 31 when she dropped 29. The Wildcats (15-6) were limited to a season-low .246 shooting while UConn shot north of 50 percent (.556) for the 16^th time this season. Sarah Mortensen scored a Villanova-best 15 points, while Paige Bueckers (18) and Olivia Nelson-Ododa (13) joined Williams in double figures for UConn. The Huskies return to the title game for the first time since 2013 and eye their first crown since 2012. UConn has won 18 BIG EAST Tournament titles and claimed all seven league postseason crowns while a member of the AAC (2014-2020).
Full Recap | Box Score| Quotes | VU Press | UConn Press (Coach) | UConn Press (Players) | Highlights
 
No. 2 seed Marquette 64, No. 6 seed Creighton 59
The Golden Eagles edged upset-minded Creighton on Sunday evening to punch their ticket to their fifth-straight BIG EAST Tournament final. Selena Lott scored a game-high 27 points, draining 11-of-15 shots from the field. MU led wire-to-wire but by never more than eight points and not more than six in the second half. With 14 points, Temi Carda kept Creighton within striking distance throughout, including just a one-point difference, 60-59, with 29 seconds left. Lott and Lauren Van Kleunen (16 points) made free-throws over the final moments to clinch the win for Marquette. Van Kleunen passed the 1,000 career point mark on the night, making 5-of-10 shots from the field. Creighton became just the third team this season to out-rebound Marquette, scoring a 36-28 win off the glass. The Golden Eagles shot over 40 percent from the field (.481) for the 10^th-straight game and 22^nd time overall. Marquette has finished runner-up in the BIG EAST Tournament title game for the last three years after winning the program’s first league crown in 2017.
Full Recap | Box Score| Quotes | CU Press | MU Press | Highlights
 
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2021 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament presented by Jeep
Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, Conn.
March 5 – First Round
Game 1: 8 seed St. John’s 65, 9 seed Xavier 57 (BEDN on FloSports)
Game 2: 7 seed Providence 63, 10 seed Butler 61 (BEDN on FloSports)
Game 3: 6 seed Creighton 56, 11 seed Georgetown 42 (BEDN on FloSports)
March 6 – Quarterfinals
Game 4: 1 seed UConn 77, 8 seed St. John’s 41 (FS1)
Game 5: 5 seed Villanova 78, 4 seed DePaul 72 OT (FS2)
Game 6:  2 seed Marquette 68, 7 seed Providence 43 (FS2)
Game 7: 6 seed Creighton 83, 3 seed Seton Hall 76 (FS2)
March 7 – Semifinals
Game 8: 1 seed UConn 84, 5 seed Villanova 39 (FS1)
Game 9: 2 seed Marquette 64, 6 seed Creighton 59 (FS1)
March 8 - Final
Game 10: 2 seed Marquette vs. 1 seed UConn, 8 p.m. (FS1)
All times Eastern