WATCH | LIVE STATS | GAME NOTES
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and #3 UConn will battle on SNY this Tuesday afternoon at 6:30 PM. The Bulldogs will be busy with three games this week. They host #18 DePaul on Thursday and will end the week with a Sunday tilt vs. Marquette on FS1.
Bulldog Bits
- This is the first-ever meeting between Butler and UConn in women's basketball.
- Butler's next three games are against the top three teams in the BIG EAST standings.
- BU had four players score 10+ points in the same game for the first time this season at Seton Hall.
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Tenley Dowell tied her career-high scoring total with 12 points her last time out at Seton Hall.
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Micah Scheetz has hit a 3-pointer in four-straight games.
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Upe Atosu and
Nyamer Diew did not play at Seton Hall and are doubtful for Tuesday's tip.
Scouting #3 UConn
The undefeated Huskies will return to action on Tuesday for the first time since Jan. 9 when UConn hosted the Providence Friars. Head Coach Geno Auriemma has the Preseason Player and Freshman of the Year on his roster in Christyn Williams and Paige Bueckers. Williams is averaging 14.6 points per game while Bueckers leads the squad with an 18.9 scoring average. Yet another player for BU to keep an eye on is Olivia Nelson-Ododa. The 6-5 junior averages 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds.
Tough Competition
Butler will play nationally-ranked teams in back-to-back games this week for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign. In
Kurt Godlevske's fourth season at BU, the 'Dawgs played at #17 USF and followed that contest by facing #11 West Virginia in the opening game of the 2017 Paradise Jam.
Looking for an Upset
Butler's last win over a ranked opponent was on Feb. 22, 2019. The 'Dawgs won at #11 Marquette 61-57. In related news, Butler's last road win was also at Marquette on Feb. 22, 2020.
First Double-Double of the Year
Jaia Alexander scored 13 points and pulled down 10 rebounds at Seton Hall to post the first double-double of the season for Butler. The last Bulldog to reach the accomplishment was
Katherine Strong at St. John's on Feb. 28, 2020. Strong scored 21 points and secured 11 boards.
Behind The Arc
Butler averages 7.6 made 3-point field goals per game, the fourth-highest total in the BIG EAST.
Genesis Parker made three 3-pointers recently vs. Seton Hall. The senior has made at least two 3-pointers in every game this season.
Okako Adika is another driving force in this category. The junior has made a 3-pointer in seven-straight contests.
Adika Lands on BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Okako Adika stuffed the stat sheet for the Bulldogs last week, averaging 14.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and .459 shooting. The junior scored in double figures in all three games, including a team-high 18 points at Seton Hall on Sunday. This season, Adika has reached a double figure scoring total in seven of Butler's nine games. She is also the first Bulldog to appear on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll this season.
9-For-9
Okako Adika is the only player on the Butler roster to start in all nine games this season. Other Bulldogs to be active in all nine games this year include
Tenley Dowell,
Ellen Ross, and
Annilia Dawn.
First Five vs. Last Four
Butler missed valuable practice time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and also dealt with numerous injuries at the start of the 2020-21 season. Over the first five games, Butler only averaged 48.4 points per game. They have improved offensively over their last four contests to average 61.5 points per game. BU allowed 74.4 points early in the year, but have dropped that average down to 66.5 points per game in recent weeks.
Searching for 70
Butler scored a season-high 68 points in their setback at Seton Hall.
Tenley Dowell tied her career-high with 12 points and
Jaia Alexander matched her season-high mark with 13 points. Alexander has been giving BU extra possessions this year by grabbing at least one offensive rebound in each game. Dowell only had three points over her last four games entering the Seton Hall matchup, but impacted the team in South Orange with four made field goals, four rebounds and two steals.
Trending in the Right Direction
Butler only had one player reach a double figure scoring total in four of their first five games. Over the last four games, BU has had three or more players score 10 or more.
Make the Extra Pass
Butler averages 10 assists per game, but has recorded 14 assists in back-to-back games.
Ellen Ross led Butler with four assists at Seton Hall, leading the team in the category for the second time this year. Seven different players dished out at least one assist vs. the Pirates, helping Butler reach a double figure assist total for the fourth time this season.
Last Game
Seton Hall secured an 83-68 victory over Butler on Sunday afternoon. Andra Espinoza-Hunter eclipsed the 20-point mark for the third straight game, leading the Pirates to their third straight win, sweeping the season series with Butler. Espinoza-Hunter scored a game-high 24 points, knocking down 6-of-7 shots from deep while adding eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Four finished in double figures for Butler with
Okako Adika tallying a team-high 18 points, while
Jaia Alexander notched her first double-double of the year with 13 points and game-high 10 rebounds.
First Time on SNY
Tuesday's tip at #3 UConn will air live on SNY. Authenticated SNY subscribers can access UConn broadcasts within the SNY broadcast footprint via the NBC Sports app. Out-of-market fans will be able to stream SNY games at no additional cost to authenticated subscribers who have FOX as part of their television package. Users will sign in with their TV provider credentials at https://www.foxsports.com/ or in the FOX Sports app.
Up Next
#18 DePaul has been added to Butler's schedule for Thursday, Jan. 21. Back-to-back home games appear on the docket with Marquette set to visit Indianapolis on Sunday, Jan. 24. That game will be nationally broadcasted on FS1 with a 2 PM start.
