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INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will host Akron in women's basketball action this Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 PM. Fans can wear their favorite holiday sweater and receive a $2 discount off the price of their ticket.
 
Bulldog Talk
- Kristen Spolyar ranks 18th on the BU all-time scoring list with 1,132 career points.
- Spolyar ranks third in the BIG EAST with an 18.9 scoring average.
- Genesis Parker is shooting 52% from 3-point range this season (15-29).
- The Bulldogs lead the BIG EAST in steals per game (13.0) and rank 13th in the NCAA.
- Parker and Spolyar have at least one steal in each game this season.
- BU leads the BIG EAST in free throw attempts and free throws made.
- Butler made 20+ free throws in each game during the Daytona Beach Invite.
- The Bulldogs have had 10+ offensive rebounds in six of their seven games this season.
- Butler's top rebounding performance this season came vs. Ohio (49).
- Oumou Toure ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in blocked shots with 9.
- Shae Brey, Spolyar and Parker have started in every game this season.
- The Akron game signals the start of a six-game home stand for BU.
 
Scouting Akron                                                                                      
The Zips are 4-3 at the start of the 2019 season after taking an 88-63 loss at home to Duquesne on Wednesday. Head Coach Melissa Jackson returns a core group of seniors from last year's team, including four of the five starters from last year's game vs. Butler. Their top scoring threat is Haliegh Reinoehl, a 6-2 forward from Westfield, Ind. Reinoehl hasn't missed a start since 2017. She set career high numbers in points, made field goals, 3-pointers, free throws and steals as a junior in 2018-19. With her return to the lineup, the Zips were picked to finish fifth in the MAC East Division. 
 
All-Time Series                                                                                       
Butler has never lost to Akron. The first meeting was a 77-71 victory for BU during the 1987-88 season. Butler defeated Akron 74-58 in the 1997 season opener, and the last meeting came just one year ago when BU went to Akron to deliver a 63-47 win.
 
Last Year at Akron                                                                                               
Kristen Spolyar scored a game-high 20 points allowing BU to post a 63-47 win at Akron in 2018. Butler led by six at the half, but would double-up Akron in the third quarter (24-12) to come out on top. Points in the paint helped dictate the outcome with BU winning that battle 38-16.
 
'Dawgs Playing D                                                                                                 
Butler is one of four BIG EAST teams limiting their opposition to 60 points or less each game. The 'Dawgs lead the conference in steals (13.0), rank second in turnovers forced (22.0) and third in scoring defense (59.7).
 
Toure Earning Playing Time                                                                 
Oumou Toure jumped into the starting lineup for the first time in Butler's last game vs. Ohio. The true freshman responded with a double-double scoring 13 points and pulling down 12 rebounds in 33 minutes of action. Toure didn't miss a shot from the free throw line and is now ranked fourth in the BIG EAST in free throw percentage (85.0). She also ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in both blocks and steals.
 
Atosu Adds Depth                                                                                               
Upe Atosu scored four points in her Butler debut vs. Georgia and filled up the box score vs. Ohio with four points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal. She's averaging 25 minutes per game, the most of any BU player not in the starting lineup.
 
Welcome Back Whitney                                                                                     
Whitney Jennings will return to Butler as an interim assistant basketball coach for the women's program. Head Coach Kurt Godlevske announced the news on Thursday, Dec. 5. Jennings spent two seasons at Butler as a student-athlete, leading the team in scoring each year. The point guard left the locker room just one year ago with 1,049 career points. She will rejoin the program immediately and be on the sideline for Butler's game vs. Akron on Dec. 8.
 
2020 Recruits                                                                                         
Head Coach Kurt Godlevske and the Butler women's basketball coaching staff have signed four student-athletes to the program for the 2020 season. Nyamer Diew F (Marshall, Minn./Sioux City East), Abby Stoddard G/F (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point), Rosemarie Dumont F (Québec City, Canada/Cegep de Sainte Foy), and Okaka Adika G/F (Holstebro, Denmark/Odessa College) will all be Bulldogs next season.
 
Up Next                                                                                                                  
The Bulldogs will host Indiana on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Action inside Hinkle Fieldhouse will get underway at 7 PM.