GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
 
INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler women's basketball team will return to action Wednesday night by hosting #10 UConn. SNY will cover the 7 PM tip between the Bulldogs and the Huskies. This contest will be just the third meeting between the two programs.
 
Bulldog Bits
- Celena Taborn leads the NCAA in field goal percentage (74.6) and ranks seventh in the BIG EAST with a 14.4 scoring avg.
- Alex Richard ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (51.2).
- Butler made a season-high 11 3-pointers in the setback at Xavier. The Bulldogs average six made 3-pointers per game, ranking sixth in the BIG EAST.
- Kendall Wingler ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in minutes played (33.9).
- Butler grabbed a season-high 15 offensive rebounds at Xavier.
 
Scouting #10 UConn                                                                             
The Huskies are 7-3 overall with a 2-0 record in the BIG EAST. Conference wins came at Seton Hall (74-49) and at home vs. Creighton (63-55). UConn got back to work on January 9 to defeat the Bluejays. Their game vs. Marquette along with road trips to DePaul, Georgetown and Villanova were all postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. Christyn Williams, Evina Westbrook and Olivia Nelson-Ododa have started in all 10 contests. Williams is averaging 13.7 points per game and is shooting 43 percent from the field. Westbrook and Nelson-Ododa rank third and fourth on the team in scoring (9.3 / 8.4 ppg).
 
All-Time Series vs. UConn                                                                                  
UConn won each meeting last year giving the Huskies a 2-0 lead over Butler in the all-time series. The first-ever meeting was a 103-35 victory in Storrs and the rematch was a 97-68 result inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.
 
Last Meeting vs. UConn                                                                       
The Bulldogs hit 14 3-pointers against UConn on Senior Day last year, but the Huskies would exit Hinkle Fieldhouse with a 97-68 victory. Paige Bueckers led her team to victory with 20 points and 14 assists. Aaliyah Edwards was also a key contributor for UConn off the bench with a team-high 24 points. 1,721 fans attended the contest with UConn coming to town as the top-ranked team in the country. 68 points was the most points scored against UConn that season among BIG EAST teams.
 
BIG EAST Home Opener                                                                       
Wednesday night will go down as the BIG EAST home opener for the Bulldogs. The last time BU came out on top in their conference opener at Hinkle Fieldhouse was during the 2018-19 season. The Bulldogs picked up wins at Villanova and Georgetown before returning to Indianapolis for home wins over Seton Hall and St. John's. Head Coach Kurt Godlevske guided Butler to a 5-0 start in conference action that season. The team ended 11-7 and would eventually reached the Sweet 16 of the WNIT with 23 total wins.
 
Four Canceled Due to COVID-19                                                                       
Butler's last four games have been canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. Their last game took place two weeks ago on Dec. 29 at Xavier. Last year, BU had eight games moved due to COVID-19. Only three of the eight games were rescheduled including Butler's first trip to UConn.
 
Attack the Rim                                                                                       
Butler has been more aggressive with the basketball over their last six games. During that stretch, BU has attempted 115 free throws, connecting on 83 tries (72.1%). Over the first six games of the year, Butler only attempted 63 free throws resulting in 41 points. BU made a season-high 24 free throws at Hinkle against Denver. Their season-low came at IUPUI when they ended the game 1-for-1 from the charity stripe.
 
Behind The Arc                                                                                       
Emilia Sexton, Tenley Dowell and Kendall Wingler supplied BU with 11 3-pointers at Xavier. Sexton tied her career-high scoring total with 15 points on five made triples. She also grabbed a career-high five rebounds vs. the Musketeers. Dowell set a new season-high scoring total with 12 points by hitting a career-high four 3-pointers in the Cintas Center. She has now hit double figures in scoring in two-straight games.
 
Fantastic Freshmen                                                                               
Butler freshmen have scored 467 of the 750 Bulldog points this season (62.2%). BU first-year players were limited to just 17 points at Xavier. A freshman has led BU in scoring six times this year. Four freshmen regularly appear in the starting lineup for the Bulldogs. Those four players only trail Celena Taborn in points per game.
 
94 Points                                                                                                                
Butler scored 94 points in the setback to Denver on Dec. 10. It marked the highest point total by a team coached by Kurt Godlevske. Prior to that contest, the record under Coach G was 92 points (vs. Western Illinois 11/17/18).The last Butler team to hit 100 points was the 2010-11 Bulldogs that scored 105 points at Ball State.
 
Taborn Take Over                                                                                                
Celena Taborn notched her first double-double as a Bulldog on Dec. 5 at Marquette with 14 points and 10 rebounds. She followed that effort with 33 points and 10 rebounds vs. Denver. Taborn has now scored in double figures six times this season (9 games). She has 1,364 points in her collegiate career and is the first Bulldog to score 30+ in a single game since Kristen Spolyar when she scored 30 vs. Marquette on Jan. 17, 2020.
 
Up Next                                                                                                                  
Butler is off this weekend and therefore can shift their focus to Friday, Jan. 21 when the 'Dawgs host the Blue Demons at 7 PM. BIG EAST action continues for BU that Sunday with a 2 PM tip vs. Marquette. Each contest will stream on BEDN on FloSports.