WATCH | LIVE STATS | GAME NOTES
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and St. John's will battle inside Carnesecca Arena on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 2 PM. The Red Storm have not played since Dec. 22, but the Bulldogs are in the midst of playing four games in the span of seven days.
 
Scouting St. John's                                                                                               
The Red Storm snapped a five-game losing streak on Dec. 22 by picking up a 60-57 home win over St. Bonaventure. Six days later, the St. John's program would take a COVID-19 related pause. Butler will be the first opponent on the STJ schedule as the team heads into 2021. Leilani Correa and Qadashah Hoppie will be at the top of the Bulldog scouting report. Correa is averaging 21.3 points per game and doubles as the team leader in steals (2.1). Hoppie joined Correa on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. The senior guard is averaging 16.5 points per game and has the most 3-point field goal makes on the team despite being limited to just four games.
 
Two With 20                                                                                                         
The last time Butler had two players reach 20+ points in the same game was Feb. 1, 2020 against St. John's. Kristen Spolyar dropped a game-high 28 points and Kat Strong filled up the box score with 21 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. The only Bulldog to top 20 points this season is newcomer Okako Adika. She scored 29 in her debut vs. Providence.
 
Diew Your Thing Nyamer                                                                                   
Freshman Nyamer Diew put together one of her best performances of the season at Providence on Thursday. She ended the contest with six points, a career-high five rebounds and the team's only blocked shot. Diew has now made two field goals in each of the last three games for the Bulldogs.
 
All-Time Series vs. St. John's                                                               
Butler trails St. John's in the all-time series 10-4. The Red Storm swept the regular season series over Butler in 2019-20 after BU swept the series the year prior in 2018-19. Butler's last win over St. John's came in 2019 at Carnesecca Arena in overtime 73-68.
 
Last Meeting vs. St. John's                                                                                 
The Red Storm needed overtime to get past Butler the last time these two teams met at Carnesecca Arena. BU led 60-54 with 2:19 left, but the Johnnies would pull even at 62-62 with 1:10 remaining. The contest featured 13 ties and 13 lead changes. Four Bulldogs and Five Johnnies finished the contest in double figures.
 
Building Chemistry                                                                                
Butler has used five different starting lineups over the first five games of the season. Okako Adika and Upe Atosu are the only 'Dawgs to start in every game.
 
Last Game                                                                                                             
A slow start didn't help Butler's cause on Thursday at Providence. BU shot just 15% from the field in the first quarter allowing the Friars to open up a 17-4 advantage. BU got back within three points at 24-21 with 3:42 to play before the half, but a late 7-0 PC scoring run in the fourth quarter took the teams to the final buzzer at 62-50.
 
Adika Has Been Awesome                                                                                 
Okako Adika has been the best player on the court for Butler over the first five games of the season. The Odessa transfer leads the team with a 15.0 scoring average and accounts for 31 percent of Butler's overall scoring this season. She scored 29 points in her Butler debut vs. Providence and led BU in scoring for the fourth time this season at Providence on Thursday with 14 points.
 
Genesis Jumps Into Starting Five                                                       
Genesis Parker made her season debut on Thursday, finishing the game at Providence with nine points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. She logged 31 minutes of playing time, the most of any Bulldog.
 
Fresh Faces                                                                                                            
Butler only used seven players on the roster the last time they matched up against St. John's. Of those seven, only two are active for Saturday's tip (Parker/Atosu) while the Johnnies bring back six players from the last meeting.
 
Keep It Close                                                                                                         
A close score in crunch time could favor Butler on Saturday as the Bulldogs search for their first win of the season. The Johnnies rank last in the BIG EAST in turnover margin and BU is the better team from the free throw line.
 
Hoosier State                                                                                         
St. John's has more student-athletes on their roster from the state of Indiana than Butler. The Red Storm went to Valparaiso, Ind. to bring in the Nolan sisters and Munster native Sara Zabrecky is now a freshman on the STJ roster. The Bulldogs have just two players from their home state. Ellen Ross is from Fort Wayne and Abby Stoddard hails from Crown Point, Ind.
 
Watch BEDN on FloHoops.com                                                          
Pat O'Keefe and Kim Adams will have the call on Saturday. Watch on FloHoops.com
 
Up Next                                                                                                                  
Butler will play two home games next week when Seton Hall and Georgetown visit Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs and Pirates will meet on Monday, Jan. 11 at 6 PM. On Wednesday, BU will host the Hoyas at 2 PM.