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INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will aim for their third-straight win at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon when they host the Western Illinois Leathernecks. Tip is slated for 2 PM. Those unable to attend can watch on Facebook Live for free.
 
Bulldog Bits                                                                                                                       
- Tori Schickel has a double-double in each game this season
- Whitney Jennings scored a season-high 24 points in the win over Murray State
- Schickel and Jennings combined to shoot 18-for-23 (78%) on Tuesday night
- Butler is shooting 51.6 percent from the field in 2018-19
- Katherine Strong came off the bench to score 15 points vs. the Racers
- BU has outscored their opponent 90-50 in the first half this year
- All 13 student-athletes on the roster have played in each game this year
- Naira Caceres jumped into the starting lineup for the first time at Butler on Tuesday
- BU has collected 14 offensive rebounds in each game this year
 
Scouting Western Illinois                                                                            
Western Illinois is 1-3 on the year after taking an 81-60 loss at Purdue on Thursday night. Taylor Higginbotham led the Leathernecks in scoring with 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Higginbotham is the fourth-highest scorer on the team trailing Elizabeth Lutz, Olivia Kaufmann and Annabel Graettinger. Both Kaufmann and Graettinger average 13.8 points to lead the team. Western Illinois and Purdue ended the first quarter tied up at 17-17, but the Boilermakers would end up with a six-point advantage at the half. The third quarter would decide the outcome with PU outscoring Western Illinois 26-16. The Leathernecks only managed 60 points against Purdue, but average 82.8 points per game. 
 
Western Wins Big                                                                                                           
Western Illinois picked up their first win of the year with a 136-39 victory against MacMurray College (DIII). The Leathernecks set a new single-game scoring record, breaking the old mark of 132. They made 28 3-pointers in the blowout win to set yet another school record.
 
Size Matters                                                                                                                      
Western Illinois Head Coach JD Gravina has a roster that includes 11 guards and just two forwards. The two tallest Leathernecks on the roster stand at 6-0. BU has five players 6-0 or taller. The Bulldogs have won the points in the paint battle vs. each opponent this year. 48-10 vs. Eastern Illinois and 46-20 vs. Murray State. Butler is also +16 in rebounds margin in 2018-19.
 
From Start to Finish                                                                                       
Butler never trailed in the season opener win vs. Eastern Illinois and they led for 32 of 40 minutes in their last game vs. Murray State.
 
Enjoy The Experience                                                                                   
Head Coach Kurt Godlevske has three seniors in his starting five lineup for the first time in his BU coaching career. Butler didn't have a single senior on the roster in 2016-17. Schickel will play in her 88th career game vs. Western Illinois and Weaver will suit up for her 80th.
 
Michelle Making a Difference                                                                   
Michelle Weaver has stuffed the box score in each game this season. The senior guard is averaging 10.5 points and has ten total steals to match 10 assists. She is shooting 40 percent from 3-point range and has only committed two turnovers.
 
Strong Performance                                                                                      
Katherine Strong scored a career-high 15 points in just 13 minutes of playing time in Butler's win over Murray State. She hit seven of her 12 shots and was 1-for-1 from the charity stripe. Her best scoring output at VCU came in 2016-17 during her sophomore season. She scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting at Saint Joseph's.
 
Home Sweet Hinkle                                                                                                      
Butler has never opened a season with six-straight home games. The closet comparison would date back to the 1977-78 campaign when BU hosted four-straight games.
 
Around The Conference                                                                                              
Butler is one of eight BIG EAST teams to possess an undefeated record early in the 2018-19 season. Seton Hall has the most wins with four.
 
Schickel Named to Preseason All-BIG EAST Team                             
Tori Schickel was one of just four players to be a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. In 2017-18, Schickel ranked fifth in the BIG EAST in scoring (16.4) and third in rebounds (9.3). She was highly efficient on the offensive end hitting 53.2 percent of her field goal attempts, the third-best percentage in the league. Schickel also ranked second in the BIG EAST in blocked shots per game (1.5).
 
Schickel Climbs Scoring List                                                                        
Tori Schickel reached 1,000 career points on Jan. 10, 2018 against St. John's to become just the 22nd player in Butler women's basketball history to reach 1,000. Schickel now ranks 12th on the all-time scoring list with 1,271 career points. She is just four points away from 11th place on the list which is currently held by Susan Lester (1,275, '06-'10).
 
Schickel Goes After Rebound Record                                                     
Tori Schickel heads into Saturday afternoon with 878 career rebounds, a total that ranks her fourth all-time at Butler. She will attempt to become just the third player in school history to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her BU career, joining Elza Purvlicis (1980-84) and Beth Piepenbrink (1980-83).
 
Double-Double                                                                                               
Tori Schickel recorded the 36th double-double of her BU career on Tuesday. She ended the game against Murray State with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Schickel had seven double-doubles as a true freshman and 16 as a sophomore. A year ago, she led the team with 11.
 
Tori To the Line                                                                                               
Tori Schickel has made more free throw than another other Bulldog through the first two games of the season (6-8). She recently became just the fifth Bulldog in school history to reach 300 career free throw makes (305).
 
Historic Tandem                                                                                                              
Tori Schickel and Whitney Jennings became the first teammates in Butler women's basketball history to record 500 points each in a single-season. Schickel scored 524 points last year and Jennings led the team with 539. They became the seventh and eighth players in school history to total 500+ points in a single-season. Jennings ranks fourth all-time for points scored in an individual season and Schickel ranks sixth. The duo accounted for 51 percent of Butler's scoring during the 2017-18 season.
 
Whitney With 20                                                                                                             
Whitney Jennings led Butler with 24 points in the win over Murray State. It was her 12th game with 20+ points as a Bulldog. Six of her 11 20+ point games last year came during the non-conference portion of the schedule.
 
One-Two Punch                                                                                                               
Tori Schickel led Butler in the scoring column in game one and Whitney Jennings held the honor for BU in game two. One of those two players led BU in scoring a year ago in 26 of 32 games. The six other games were split up between Michelle Weaver and Kristen Spolyar.
 
Up Next                                                                                                                              
Butler will host UMass Lowell on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 PM.