GAME NOTES
 
INDIANAPOLIS – BIG EAST action will get underway this weekend with Butler hosting Seton Hall and St. John's. The Bulldogs take an 8-3 overall record into the conference season while both Seton Hall and St. John's hold onto 7-4 records.
 
Bulldog Talk
- Butler has reached eight non-conference wins in three-straight seasons.
- Upe Atosu has hit three or more 3-pointers in three-straight games.
- Atosu scored a season-high 18 points vs. PFW. She has hit a double figure scoring total in four-straight games.
- Atosu made her first start of the season vs. PFW. Kat Strong was inactive (wisdom teeth).
- Oumou Toure posted her second double-double of the season vs. PFW with a season-high 14 points and 12 rebounds.
- Shae Brey recorded a season-high seven assists in the win over PFW.
- Kristen Spolyar ranks 15th on the BU all-time scoring list with 1,209 career points.
- Spolyar ranks second in the BIG EAST and 28th in the NCAA with a 19.0 scoring average.
- Spolyar has scored in double figures in 10 of Butler's 11 games this season. She scored 27 points vs. PFW.
- Butler ranks second in the BIG EAST in rebound margin (+3.9), and steals per game (12.3).
- Genesis Parker has 12 assists over her last three games (22 total).
 
Scouting Seton Hall                                                                               
The Pirates are 7-4 after defeating Lafayette on their home floor last week 74-50. Head Coach Anthony Bozzella has five players averaging double figures in the score column. Desiree Elmore and Alexis Lewis are the top two scoring threats along with Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year Shadeen Samuels. Elmore is averaging 16 points and a team-best eight rebounds per game. Lewis is one of only two players to start in every game this season. She averages 13.5 points and is the top 3-point shooter on the roster. Samuels has only played in seven of Seton Hall's 11 games this year, but is coming off a 19-point game vs. Lafayette in only 23 minutes of playing time. She is averaging 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 2019.
 
All-Time Series                                                                                       
Butler trails Seton Hall in the all-time series 7-5. Each team has picked up a win on their home court over the last three seasons. The Bulldogs won the first two meetings during the 2013-14 campaign, but the Pirates struck back with four-straight wins from 2014-16.
 
Scouting St. John's                                                                                               
The Johnnies won three of their final four games of the non-conference slate to post a 7-4 record. They will face Xavier before visiting Indianapolis on New Year's Eve. Head Coach Joe Tartamella has a balanced scoring attack highlighted by Qadashah Hoppie and her team-high 16.2 points per game average. Hoppie leads the team in minutes played, made 3-pointers, made free throws, and is near the team lead in steals. Point guard Tiana England has handed out 55 assists already in 2019 and the Red Storm are led by Kadaja Bailey in the paint with her team-best 6.0 rebounds per game. The X-factor could be newcomer Leilani Correa. The freshman guard scored the game-tying bucket and game-winning basket in the win over Fairfield. She scored a game-high 31 points in the victory.
 
All-Time Series                                                                                       
Butler is 4-8 against the Johnnies all-time. Two of their four wins came last year during the 2018-19 campaign. The 'Dawgs won 66-45 at home and 73-68 in overtime at Carnesecca Arena.
 
Streaks                                                                                                     
Naira Caceres has a steal in four-straight games. She tied her career-high with three steals vs. PFW. Shae Brey has a steal in five-straight games and at least one assist in 10-straight contests.
 
Spolyar Lands On BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll                              
Kristen Spolyar had a game-high 27 points as Butler topped Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday to close out non-conference play 8-3. She shot 9-17 from the field and added seven rebounds and two assists.
 
Spolyar Shoots Up All-Time Scoring List at BU                                
Kristen Spolyar needs just six points to move into 14th place on the Butler all-time scoring list. Debbie Benziger currently holds that spot with 1,214 points. 16 points will allow Spolyar to pass Liz Skinner who played at Butler from 1978-82. Spolyar's top scoring performance this season came against Detroit Mercy when she tied the BU single-game points record with 37 against the Titans.
 
Get To The Line                                                                                      
Butler leads the BIG EAST and ranks 10th in the NCAA in both free throws made (189) and free throw attempts (274). Kristen Spolyar ranks first in the conference and seventh in the nation in free throw attempts. Genesis Parker ranks third in the BIG EAST in attempts.
 
Up Next
Butler's first BIG EAST road test will come on Jan. 4 at Xavier. The Musketeers will host the Bulldogs at the Cintas Center at 2 PM.