Game Notes
 
Providence at Butler
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Gameday Information
Date: Friday, February 24, 2017 / 7:00 PM EST
Location: Indianapolis, Ind. / Hinkle Fieldhouse
Live Stats: ButlerSports.com | Watch: BEDN
Series History: Butler leads the all-time series against Providence 6-1
Last Meeting: Providence defeated Butler 68-51 on Dec. 30, 2016
 
#25 Creighton at Butler
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Gameday Information
Date: Sunday, February 26, 2017 / 1:00 PM EST
Location: Indianapolis, Ind. / Hinkle Fieldhouse
Live Stats: ButlerSports.com | Watch: BEDN
Series History: Creighton leads the all-time series vs. Butler 5-3
Last Meeting: Creighton defeated Butler 67-52 on Dec. 28, 2016
 
INDIANAPOLIS – The end of the 2016-17 regular season is quickly approaching as the Bulldogs prepare to host Providence and Creighton this weekend. The Friars will face Butler on Friday night at 7 PM. Sunday's tilt against #25 Creighton will tip at 1 PM. Pink t-shirts will be handed out to the first 500 ticketed fans on Sunday afternoon.
 
Bulldog Bits
- Tori Schickel set the school record for most rebounds recorded in a single-season
- Schickel has led BU in rebounding in each game this season, averaging 11.5 rpg
- Schickel has 504 career boards, only two players in BU history have reached 1,000
- Schickel posted 21 points and 16 rebounds at Villanova, adding three blocks
- Butler took Villanova to overtime in each meeting this year, but lost both games
- Sydney Buck didn't play in the first meeting vs. Creighton or Providence
- Taylor Buford averaged 10.5 points last week vs. Georgetown and Villanova
- Shae Brey scored 8 pts at Villanova, her highest scoring total since 11/16 (IPFW)
- Michelle Weaver ranks second in the BIG EAST in steals per game (1.8)

BIG EAST Standings
1) DePaul 14-2, 22-6
2) Creighton 14-2, 20-6
3) Marquette 11-5, 20-7
4) Villanova 11-5, 16-11
5) St. John's 10-7, 18-10
6) Georgetown 9-7, 17-9
7) Seton Hall 4-13, 11-17
8) Providence 3-13, 11-16
9) Xavier 3-13, 11-16
10) Butler 2-14, 5-22
 
Regular-Season Finale
The final weekend of the regular season is upon us with still no seeds solidified for the upcoming BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament presented by Jeep. The regular-season title will go to No. 19/18 DePaul, RV/25 Creighton or both. The preseason co-favorites enter the weekend with matching 14-2 conference records and a three-game lead over RV/RV Marquette and Villanova, who are locked into a third-place draw and are the only teams that can claim the No. 3 seed. At 10-7 with Seton Hall left to play, current fifth-place squad St. John's can rise as high as the No. 4 seed or drop as low as No. 6. The current No. 6, Georgetown, will have the opportunity to clinch some high-ranking wins when it travels to the Midwest to face the Golden Eagles and Blue Demons this weekend. The bottom four teams are all locked into playing in the tournament's first round on March 4, but jockeying for seeding remains as the Pirates, Xavier, Providence and Butler all remain fluid in the 7-10 slots. The Friars will face the Musketeers and Bulldogs this weekend, while Butler and Xavier will also be tasked with the nationally ranked Bluejays.

Schickel Lands On BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Tori Schickel stuffed the stat sheet last week averaging 23 points, 15 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per contest in a road swing that included Georgetown and Villanova. With 311 boards this year, Schickel broke the Butler single-season rebounding record which had been on the books since 1981-82.
 
Schickel Sets Single-Season Rebound Record
Tori Schickel broke the Butler school record for most rebounds recorded in a single season on Feb. 19 at Villanova by grabbing a team-high 16 rebounds. The performance against the Wildcats pushed her season total to 311 which moved Schickel past Beth Piepenbrink who collected 302 rebounds during the 1981-82 season. Schickel has reached 20 rebounds in two contests this season. The first came at Xavier on Jan. 8 and the second was at home against Villanova on Jan. 20. She has pulled down 10 rebounds in 16 of Butler's 27 games this season and has led the team in rebounds in every game this year.
 
All-Time Series vs. Providence
Providence defeated Butler for the first time in program history earlier this year 68-51. The win broke a six-game Butler winning streak that started when the Bulldogs jumped into the BIG EAST Conference. One year ago, BU won 77-67 at Alumni Hall and 65-50 at Hinkle. Each victory during the 2014-15 campaign ended in single digits with BU winning by five at home and nine on the road. The 2013-14 season also featured close games with BU winning each game by just three points.
 
Butler at Providence Recap
Providence led from start to finish in the first meeting after jumping out to a 20-12 first quarter lead. Yoyo Nogic hit five of her six shots from 3-point range to pace the Friars with a team-high 18 points. Aliyah Miller added 12 while point guard Sarah Beal chipped in with 11. The Bulldogs only shot 32 percent from the field and went 1-for-15 from 3-point range to take the loss. Kristen Spolyar led the team with 11 points. Tori Schickel and Michelle Weaver combined to score 19.
 
All-Time Series vs. Creighton
Creighton swept Butler last year and won the first meeting of this season to take a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series. The BIG EAST opener this year would be a 67-52 victory for the Bluejays on their home court in Omaha, Neb. The Bluejays also won 77-49 on their home court last year before traveling to Hinkle Fieldhouse to defeat Butler 52-42. Butler's last win over Creighton came during the first meeting of the 2014-15 season when the 'Dawgs won at home 63-58. BU won the first two meetings of the all-time series in 2013-14, but Creighton would get revenge by knocking BU out of their first ever BIG EAST Tournament 61-52.
 
Butler at Creighton Recap
Butler held a six-point halftime lead at Creighton, but a four-point third quarter would bury the Bulldogs. Michelle Weaver was the top scoring option for BU, leading the way with 18 points. Tori Schickel just missed a double-double with eight points and 14 boards. The trio of Marissa Janning, Audrey Faber and Brianna Rollerson would lead the Creighton comeback. Janning scored a team-high 17 points with seven of those coming from the line. Faber added 16 while Rollerson posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Jaylyn Agnew also impacted the contest with 10 points off the Creighton bench.
 
Overtime Info
Butler is 1-2 this year in overtime games with a win over Xavier, but two losses to Villanova. The team only played in one overtime game a year ago (L, 70-63 at Indiana State), but took part in three overtime games during Coach G's first season in 2014-15 (0-3). Butler has never played two overtime games against the same opponent in a single-season, before doing so against the Wildcats this year. The most overtime games played in one season is three, a feat reached by Butler teams five different times. Butler played back-to-back overtime games in 2013-14, losing both early in the season during non-conference action.
 
Buck From Long Range
Shooting guard Sydney Buck will look to move up the Butler career 3-point list during the final two games of the regular season. Buck heads into the weekend with 162 made 3-point field goals over 76 games played. She will move into sole possession of sixth place on the list with three made 3-pointers and can jump into the top five with six made shots from long range. Brittany Bowen (2007-11) currently sits in sixth with 164 made 3-pointers, fifth place currently belongs to Debbit Benzinger (1995-98, 167).
 
Buford After the Break
Taylor Buford scored 21 points for Butler last week in games against Georgetown and Villanova. 15 of those 21 points came in the third quarter with Buford coming out of halftime playing very aggressive. At Georgetown, Buford went 2-for-3 from the field in the third and knocked down all four of her free throw attempts for eight points in six minutes. Sunday at Villanova, Buford shot 3-of-4 with a 3-pointer against the Wildcats for seven points.
 
Break On Through
Butler was in position to break their losing streak during each game last weekend, but were unable to break into the win column. There were 10 ties and four lead changes at Georgetown and nine ties with eight lead changes in the overtime loss to Villanova. Butler is 2-4 this year in games decided by five points or less. Their last win was a 3-point margin in overtime at Xavier (1/8).
 
National Rankings
Tori Schickel ranks fifth in the NCAA in total rebounds (311) and also comes in at fifth in the country in rebounds per game (11.5). The BIG EAST rebound leader averages a double-double and therefore ranks 25th in the nation with 12 double-doubles on the year.
 
BIG EAST Rankings
Tori Schickel finds herself ranked in the top-five of multiple BIG EAST statistical categories. Schickel leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (11.5), is 2nd in minutes (35.3) and 5th in field goal percentage (50.0). A closer breakdown shows Schickel leading the league in both offensive rebounds (4.1) and defensive boards (7.4). The sophomore forward also ranks 6th in blocked shots (1.3), 7th in steals (1.6), and 7th in scoring (14.6).
 
Up Next
Butler will compete in the First Round of the 2017 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Championship Tournament. The four teams for the First Round have been announced however the seeding is still up in the air. Butler will be joined by Seton Hall, Providence and Xavier on the opening day of the tournament. The bracket will be released upon the completion of the regular season on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 26.