Best of the Best
The UConn Huskies (21-0, 11-0) have been nothing short of dominant this season as they are the only undefeated women’s basketball team remaining in the country. The team is on a 37-game winning streak, the fifth longest in program history. Sophomore phenom Sarah Strong leads the Huskies, averaging 18.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game. Azzi Fudd is sporting a .491/.445/1.000 shooting split this season. Her 3-point percentage is 14th in the nation. The Huskies lead the nation with 24.1 assists per game, dishing 20 or more in the last 19 contests. UConn is 4-0 against nationally ranked opponents this season, with its next matchup on Saturday, February 1, against #15 Tennessee.
 
The Pirates Treasure
Seton Hall has found gold with graduate student Mariana Valenzuela. Valenzuela, a transfer from Florida State, leads Seton Hall with 7.5 rebounds per game and is second in points per game (13.2). On Monday, she was named to the league’s weekly honor roll after averaging 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in a 1-1 week against Providence and UConn. She was the biggest spark for the Pirates against the Huskies, scoring the first six points of the game to finish with a game-high 18 points. She helped the Pirates lead UConn for 4:13, marking the longest the Huskies have trailed this season in any game. Valenzuela heads into week 13 of play with 13 double-digit scoring performances and three double-doubles.
 
Snaps for Sabou
Providence graduate student Sabou Gueye leads the Friars and is in the top-10 of multiple BIG EAST statistical categories. Sabou leads PC with 14.1 points per game, 14 double-digit scoring performances and five 20-point outings through 21 games this season. She is fifth in the league with a .488 field-goal percentage and sixth in points per game (14.2). Sabou is ninth in rebounds per game (5.9) and steals per game (1.9) among BIG EAST players.  
 
BIG EAST Players Among the Nation’s Best
UConn’s KK Arnold ranks third in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (4.45) while teammate Sarah Strong ranks third in steals per game (3.62), fifth in steals (76), and 11th in field-goal percentage (.596). Huskies’ Azzi Fudd is 10th in three-pointers (61) and 14th in the nation with a .445 three-point percentage. Seton Hall’s Savannah Catalon is tied for 18th in steals with 60 and 22nd in steals per game (3.0). Neleigh Gessert (Creighton) is 19th in the NCAA with 58 made three-pointers and is tied for 22nd with 153 three-point attempts.
 
Week 13 Schedule
This week’s BIG EAST women’s basketball schedule features 11 games. Villanova hosts Providence on Tuesday, January 27 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+, followed by three games on Wednesday – St. John’s at Creighton (7 p.m.), DePaul at Marquette (7:30 p.m.) and Xavier at #1 UConn (8 p.m.). Seton Hall travels to Georgetown on Thursday night for an 11 a.m. matchup on ESPN+. Saturday’s duo of games on ESPN+ starts at 1 p.m. with St. John’s at Providence, followed by DePaul at Villanova at 2 p.m. The top-ranked Huskies meet their fifth top-25 opponent this season against #15 Tennessee on Sunday at noon on FOX. Sunday afternoon has three games, including Butler-Xavier (1 p.m.), Creighton-Seton Hall (3 p.m.) and Marquette-Georgetown (5 p.m.).
 
UConn Sweeps Weekly Awards
UConn sophomore forward Sarah Strong recorded her second straight and sixth BIG EAST Player of the Week honor of the season. Strong averaged 20.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals in a 3-0 week against Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Seton Hall. Husky teammate forward Blanca Quiñonez earned her seventh BIG EAST Freshman of the Week. Quiñonez averaged 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the three wins. This is the sixth time this season that UConn swept the weekly awards. Full Release
 
Sunday Recaps
Marquette 64 at Butler 60
Box Score
Marquette’s Halle Vice scored 23 points on 10-for-15 shooting from the field, while Jaidynn Mason added 16 points, with 14 in the second half. Butler had three players score double figures – Mallory Miller (14), Lily Zeinstra (13) and Saniya Jackson (12). Jackson also pulled down nine rebounds. The Golden Eagles were held scoreless for 3:34 as they held a six-point lead with less than five minutes to go. Miller hit a three-pointer for Butler to cut MU’s lead to three with 30 seconds left. Lee Volker and Mason went 3-for-3 from the foul line to seal the win.
 
at DePaul 76, Creighton 61 
Box Score
Kate Novik led DePaul with 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals. Devin Hagemann scored 16 points on the strength of four 3-pointers, to go with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Natiah Nelson shot 83% from the field to finish with 10 points. The win marked DePaul’s first victory over Creighton since 2022. Creighton’s Ava Zediker had a game-high 19 points, while Grace Boffeli recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Neleigh Gessert (11) and Kennedy Townsend (10) rounded out Creighton’s double-digit scorers.

BIG EAST to Provide Public Availability Reports for Men's and Women's Basketball
Beginning in the 2025-26 season, the BIG EAST Conference will provide public reports on the availability of student-athletes in conference games for the sports of men's and women's basketball. BIG EAST schools will be required to submit availability reports three hours before the scheduled tipoff time.  Under the reporting structure, players will be designated as "questionable" or "out."  Availability reports will be posted on the BIG EAST website throughout the 2025-26 season. 
Women's Basketball Availability Reports
 
#BEwbb Schedule
Tuesday, January 27
Providence at Villanova*, 7 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
 
Wednesday, January 28
St. John’s at Creighton*, 7 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
DePaul at Marquette*, 7:30 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
Xavier at #1 UConn*, 8 p.m. Stats | Peacock
 
Thursday, January 29
Seton Hall at Georgetown*, 11 a.m. Stats | ESPN+
 
Saturday, January 31
St. John’s at Providence*, 1 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
DePaul at Villanova*, 2 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
 
Sunday, February 1
#15 Tennessee at #1 UConn, Noon Stats | FOX
Butler at Xavier*, 1 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
Creighton at Seton Hall*, 3 p.m. Stats | truTV
Marquette at Georgetown*, 5 p.m. Stats | truTV
 
* Conference game
All Times Eastern