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INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler Bulldogs will host the Xavier Musketeers at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Wednesday night. The 6:30 tip on FS2 is the second meeting between the two BIG EAST rivals and doubles as Butler's Pink Game.
 
GameDay
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Indianapolis, Ind. - Hinkle Fieldhouse
Live Stats: ButlerSports.com – StatBroadcast
Watch: FS2
 
Bulldog Bits
- Butler leads the BIG EAST and ranks 8th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (38.3%).
- The Bulldogs rank second in the BIG EAST in made 3-pointers per game (8.0).
- Rachel Kent has made a 3-pointer in 16-straight games. She ranks fourth in the conference in made 3-pointers with 59.
- Kent is four free throws away from 200 and one assist away from 300 in her career.
- Caroline Strande ranks ninth in the BIG EAST in scoring (15.2) and eighth in rebounding (7.4).
- Strande posted a double-double at Xavier in the last meeting posting a career-high 26 points and 10 rebounds against the Musketeers.
- Strande just missed a double-double at Villanova with a team-high 19 points and nine rebounds.
- Strande scored nine points in the fourth quarter at Providence and helped BU win at Villanova with seven fourth quarter points.
- Strande was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor roll on Monday for the fourth time this season.
- Butler hasn't allowed a 20-point quarter to an opponent over their last three games.
- BU outscored Villanova 17-10 in the second quarter at the Finneran Pavilion.
- The Bulldogs led the Wildcats for nearly 30 minutes on Saturday afternoon.
- Butler held Villanova scoreless for over six minutes in the third quarter.
 
BIG EAST Standings
UConn 15-0, 23-5
Creighton 12-3, 21-4
Villanova 9-5, 16-9
St. John's 9-6, 15-12
Marquette 8-6, 19-6
Seton Hall 7-8, 15-11
Providence 6-8, 12-15
Georgetown 6-9, 16-10
Butler 4-10, 12-13
DePaul 4-11, 12-16
Xavier 0-14, 1-22
 
Scouting Xavier                                                                                      
The Musketeers have lost 14-straight and head to Hinkle Fieldhouse with a 1-22 overall record. Mackayla Scarlett is the top scorer on the team averaging 14.2 ppg. She has appeared in 17 of Xavier's 23 games and has scored in double figures in 12 of those 17 contests. Nila Blackford is another player to keep an eye on for the Musketeers. She ranks fourth in the league in rebounding (8.4) and chips in with 8.5 points per game. Tae'lor Purvis ranks 11th in the BIG EAST in steals (1.6) and is also the team leader in assists (2.8). 
 
All-Time Series                                            
Butler leads Xavier in the all-time series 32-21. 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 15-7 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 won at the Cintas Center earlier this season 90-57. The Bulldogs shot a season-high 62.3 percent from the field and 54.2 percent from 3-point range. BU outscored Xavier 28-8 in the second quarter to build their lead and ended the contest with four players scoring in double figures. Butler dished out 26 assists on 33 made field goals and dominated the Musketeers on the glass 40-21. Strande led all players with 26 points, Makalusky had 19, Jaynes added 14 and Kent was responsible for 12. Mackayla Scarlett led the Musketeers with 18 points.
 
A Look Back at Last Week                                                                                  
The Bulldogs recorded two BIG EAST road wins last week to move past DePaul in the conference standings. Last week started with a 55-47 win at Providence followed by a 55-52 victory at Villanova. The win over the Wildcats was Butler's first against a team listed in the Top 50 of the NET rankings. The win over the Friars was significant as well with Providence coming in at 118 in the NET. Butler won at Providence last year but had not won at Villanova since Jan. 10, 2020. Defense was the key to success for BU as opponents shot just 34 percent from the field and 24 percent from distance. The Bulldogs also dominated the action in the second quarter 33-16.
 
Strande Lands on BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll                               
Caroline Strande was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday for the fourth time this season. She averaged 20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in a 2-0 week for the Bulldogs. Strande scored 22 points and grabbed nine boards at Providence on Wednesday before going for 19 points and nine boards at Villanova on Saturday.
 
Fun in February                                                                                      
Butler rattled off four-straight wins in February a year ago and a victory over Xavier on Wednesday night would match that effort. Last year's streak started at Providence and included home wins over Georgetown, Xavier, and Seton Hall.
 
Dynamic Duo                                                                                                        
Rachel Kent and Caroline Strande are the only Bulldogs to start in every game this season. They each average over 30 minutes of playing time and are the only two to average double figures for BU in the scoring column.
 
Shot Selection                                                                                        
The top five scorers on Butler's roster all shoot over 40 percent from the field and four of the five shoot 40 percent or better from 3-point range. The best shooting display by any Bulldog this season came in the last meeting vs. Xavier. Sydney Jaynes made six of her seven shots attempts to shoot 85.7 percent against the Musketeers.
 
Total Team Effort                                                                                                  
Butler ranks third in the BIG EAST in bench points per game (17.6). The Bulldog bench has outscored the opponent bench in eight of the team's last 10 games. In the last meeting, Butler's bench outscored Xavier's 25-6.
 
Strande Continues to Score                                                                 
Caroline Strande has led Butler in scoring 13 times this season and in eight of Butler's last 10 games. She has scored in double figures in 10-straight games.
 
Welcome Back                                                                                       
Jordan Meulemans has hit two 3-pointers in every game since she returned from an injury. The BU guard has made multiple 3-pointers in a single game 13 times this season.
 
Grab the Board                                                                                      
Caroline Strande is the top rebounding guard in the BIG EAST. She has led Butler in rebounding 18 times this season (25 games) and in 11 of Butler's 14 BIG EAST games. Strande has pulled down nine rebounds in three-straight games. The Bulldogs as a team have recorded 10 offensive rebounds or more in five of their last eight games.
 
Sharpshooters                                                                                        
Butler has three of the best 3-point shooters in the BIG EAST on their roster. Caroline Strande and Jordan Meulemans rank second and third in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage and Rachel Kent comes in at ninth. This trio accounts for 141 of Butler's 196 made 3-pointers this year (70%).
 
Tied a Team Record                                                                                             
Jordan Meulemans made eight 3-pointers in Butler's win over St. Thomas. She 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                                                                                                                  
Two road games appear on Butler's schedule to wrap up the month of February. The Bulldogs will play at Georgetown on Saturday, Feb. 24 and end their road trip at DePaul on Feb. 28.