WATCH | LIVE STATS | GAME NOTES
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and Xavier will go head-to-head at the Cintas Center on Wednesday night. The 7 PM tip will stream on FloHoops.com. Each team is in search of their first BIG EAST win.
 
GameDay
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio - Cintas Center
Live Stats: GoXavier.com – Statbroadcast
Watch: FloHoops.com
 
Bulldog Bits
- Caroline Strande made the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after averaging 16.5 points and 7.0 rebounds last week.
- Strande matched her career-high scoring total with 22 points against Providence.
- Strande ranks eighth in the BIG EAST in rebounding (7.5) and 14th in scoring (14.5).
- Strande is the fifth-best free throw shooter in the conference (81.5%).
- Strande and Sydney Jaynes averaged 10 ppg in two games against Xavier last year.
- Jaynes shot 7-for-9 from the field against the Musketeers last season and had seven assists.
- Butler's first BIG EAST win last year came at Xavier on Dec. 28 (79-65).
- Jordan Meulemans ranks 19th in the NCAA in 3-point field goal percentage (44.2).
- The Bulldogs rank second in the BIG EAST in made 3-pointers per game (8.2) and third in 3-point percentage (37.6).
- Strande just went 5-for-6 from 3-point range in her last game setting new career-highs in each category.
- Cristen Carter matched her season-high totals in rebounds (7) and assists (2) vs. Providence while setting a new career-high in blocked shots (3).
- Rachel Kent needs 24 points on Wednesday to reach 1,500 in her career.
 
BIG EAST Standings
UConn 8-0, 16-3
Creighton 5-2, 14-3
Villanova 5-2, 12-6
St. John's 5-2, 11-8
Marquette 4-3, 15-3
Georgetown 4-3, 14-4
Seton Hall 3-4, 11-7
Providence 3-4, 9-11
DePaul 2-5, 10-10
Butler 0-7, 8-10
Xavier 0-7, 1-15
 
Scouting Xavier                                                                                      
The Musketeers are 1-15 this season with their lone victory coming at the Cintas Center against SIUE on Dec. 15. Last week, Xavier lost at DePaul on Tuesday (79-47) and at Georgetown on Saturday (77-49). Head Coach Billi Chambers took over the program in April of 2023 before spending the previous 10 years at Iona. She led the Gaels to two NCAA Tournament appearances and was a two-time MAAC Coach of the Year. No Musketeer play has started in every game this season. Nila Blackford and Daniela Lopez are the closest having played in 15. Blackford ranks third in the league in rebounds per game (8.8) and Kaysia Woods ranks 10th in the BIG EAST in made 3-pointers per game (2.0). Mackayla Scarlett leads the team with her 12.5 scoring average. Scarlett scored 21 of Xavier's 49 points in their last game. She played a team-high 37 minutes and shot 7-for-19 from the field to become the only Musketeer to score in double figures.
 
All-Time Series                                                                                       
Butler leads Xavier in the all-time series 31-21. The Bulldogs swept the regular season series a year ago, but the Musketeers won each matchup in 21-22. Since joining the BIG EAST, Butler is 14-7 against Xavier. They swept the Musketeers in 2013-14, 2014-15, 2018-19, and 2019-20. The first-ever meeting between the two programs was played during the 1982-83 season. Butler won that game 71-64 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
 
Last Meeting vs. Xavier                                                                        
Butler recorded a 60-43 win over Xavier last year in their annual Pink Out game. The 'Dawgs limited Xavier to just six points in the first quarter and seven in the fourth to find the win column. Sydney Jaynes helped BU get out to an 8-0 lead as Butler scored 20 of their first 30 points in the paint. Jaynes led the Bulldogs to victory with 16 points, five assists and three blocked shots. Caroline Strande came off the bench to add nine.
 
A Look at Last Week                                                                                            
The Bulldogs took two losses last week with a 60-42 setback to St. John's in Queens followed by a 63-53 home loss to Providence. Caroline Strande led Butler in scoring (16.5) and rebounding (7.0). She didn't miss a free throw attempt (7-7) and shot 85 percent from 3-point range (6-7). Cristen Carter started in each contest and averaged 4.5 rebounds. The only Bulldog to average more than 30 minutes of playing time last week was Rachel Kent.
 
20-Point Quarter                                                                                                  
The Bulldogs have not scored 20 points in a quarter during this calendar year. They had 20 in the first quarter vs. Ohio on Dec. 21 and 21 in the first quarter at UConn on Dec. 18. BU nearly reached that mark against Providence with 19 points in the third quarter on Sunday. They shot 50 percent from the field and outscored the Friars by 10 during that 10-minute stretch.
 
Shot Selection                                                                                        
The Bulldogs shot 46 percent against Xavier during the regular season last year while limiting the Musketeers to 38 percent. The top four BU scorers on this year's team all shoot 41 percent or better. Butler is 6-4 this year when shooting 40 percent or better from the field.
 
3-Point Threat                                                                                        
Butler hit nine 3-pointers vs. Providence giving the team their highest total since making 10 against Seton Hall on Jan. 6. The Bulldogs also hit 10 3-pointers at UConn on Dec. 18. Reaching double figures against the Musketeers may be challenging as Xavier ranks third in the league in defending the arc. Xavier opponents are shooting just 29 percent from 3-point land. 
 
New Wrinkle                                                                                                         
This week is the first time this season the Bulldogs will play back-to-back road games. The 'Dawgs did play two games away from Hinkle Fieldhouse while in Stockton, California over Thanksgiving break but the second contest was not a true road game. Three-straight home games appear on the schedule after this week, but that stretch is followed by BU playing four of five on the road to end February.
 
Get It Started                                                                                          
Rachel Kent drilled a 3-pointer vs. Providence to supply the team with their first points of the game. She did the same thing when Butler played at UConn. Over the other five BIG EAST games, Sydney Jaynes was the first Bulldog to score with the lone exception coming at St. John's (Ari Wiggins steal, led to a layup).
 
Grab the Board                                                                                      
Caroline Strande is the top rebounding guard in the BIG EAST Conference. She has led Butler in rebounding 13 times (18 games) this season and six times over the team's first seven BIG EAST games.
 
2 for 20                                                                                                    
Jordan Meulemans and Caroline Strande became the first Bulldog teammates to score 20 points or more in the same game since Feb. 28, 2020. Meulemans scored a team-high 23 points against Chicago State on Dec. 10 and Strande scored a career-high 22 points. The last Bulldog duo to score 20 each in the same game prior to this season was Kristen Spolyar and Kat Strong. Spolyar had 28 at St. John's and Strong posted 21.
 
Tied a Team Record                                                                                             
Jordan Meulemans made eight 3-pointers in Butler's win over St. Thomas to match the single-game high in the BIG EAST this season. She ended the contest going 8-for-10 from behind the arc to score a career-high 24 points. Meulemans was just one 3-pointer shy of tying the single-game BU individual record and the 'Dawgs tied their team record with 16 made 3-pointers in the victory.
 
Up Next                                                                                                                  
Butler will play at Marquette this weekend with the Golden Eagles hosting the action at the Al McGuire Center. Tip on BEDN is set for 5 PM Eastern / 4 Central. Marquette recently dropped out of the Top 25 but are still receiving votes in the poll. They will face #8 UConn Tuesday night in Milwaukee.