(BUTLER RELEASE)
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and Marquette will battle on FS1 this Sunday at 2 PM. The Bulldogs are playing their fourth game in eight days. After Sunday they will be off until Feb. 3.
Bulldog Bits
- Butler's three opponents this week are the top three teams in the BIG EAST standings.
- Adika or Parker have led the team in scoring in 10 of 11 contests this season.
- Jaia Alexander has led the team in rebounds in six-straight games.
- Tenley Dowell scored a career-high 14 points vs DePaul, by shooting 6-for-8 from the field.
- Upe Atosu and Nyamer Diew have missed the last three games and are not expected to play on Sunday.
Scouting Marquette
Marquette has had the same five student-athletes start in all 10 games this year. This unit is unique in today's game due to head coach Megan Duffy playing three forwards and just two guards. One of the two guards is arguably the best two-way player in the league. Selena Lott averages a team-high 17.0 points and doubles as the team leader in steals with 13. Her partner in the backcourt is sophomore Jordan King, the Golden Eagle assist leader. Butler will have to match Marquette's size inside. Lauren Van Kleunen, Camryn Taylor and Chloe Marotta are all 6-1 or taller. For Butler, Okako Adika is the only starter listed as 6-0.
All-Time Series vs. Marquette
The Golden Eagles hold a 14-9 advantage over Butler in the all-time series. The two teams split the regular season series last year with each program winning on their home floor. Butler came out on top in the first meeting at Hinkle Fieldhouse 61-55 and Marquette would win at the Al McGuire Center 76-54. This rivalry dates back to the 1985-86 season. Butler's first win that year came against Marquette 62-61.
Last Meeting vs. Marquette
The first 10 minutes decided the game in the last meeting with Marquette opening up a 25-9 lead after the first quarter. Selena Lott and Camryn Taylor each scored 13 points while Lauren Van Kleunen chipped in with 12. Butler shot just 30 percent from the field while Marquette hit at a 57 percent clip.
Behind The Arc
Butler averages 7.3 3-point field goals per game, the fourth-highest total in the BIG EAST. Four different student-athletes hit from long range in the setback to DePaul on Thursday night. Tenley Dowell led BU from 3-point range going 2-for-2 from distance. Okako Adika also kept her streak alive in the contest. Adika has made a 3-pointer in nine-straight games.
On The Call
Matt Schumacker and Patricia Babcock-McGraw will call the action Sunday on FS1.
Last Game
Deja Church scored her 1,000th career point and finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds on the night as the 18th-ranked Blue Demons picked up their fourth-straight win. Lexi Held led DePaul (9-3, 6-1) with 17 points while Butler's Genesis Parker scored a game-high 18 points. The Bulldogs (1-10, 1-9) saw four score in double figures, including 16 for standout newcomer Okako Adika. Butler shot a season-high .418 from the field and took advantage of DePaul's cold shooting early, but the Blue Demons posted back-to-back 24-point quarters in the second and third to erase the early deficit and build up a double-digit lead. The Blue Demons, who rank among the national leaders in turnovers forced, scored 31 points off 26 Butler miscues.
Bulldogs Back on FS1
Butler's last appearance on FS1 came on Sunday, Jan. 20 in 2019. The Bulldogs traveled to Omaha, Neb. to post a 75-43 win over the Bluejays at D.J. Sokol Arena. Katherine Strong scored a career-high 23 points to lead BU to victory.
Jaia's Journey Back
Jaia Alexander recorded her second double-double of the season Thursday night against #18 DePaul with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Her first double-double game came at Seton Hall and included 13 points and 10 boards. She is the only player on the roster to record a double-double this season.
Season-High Set vs. DePaul
Micah Scheetz and Ellen Ross impacted the DePaul game with their defense. Scheetz recorded a season-high three steals in the contest and Ellen Ross pulled down a season-best four rebounds.
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.
11-For-11
Okako Adika is the only player on the Butler roster to start in all 11 games this season. Other Bulldogs to be active in all 11 games this year include Tenley Dowell, Ellen Ross, and Annilia Dawn.
One-Two Punch
Okako Adika and Genesis Parker account for 44 percent of Butler's scoring this season and Parker missed the first four games of the season with an injury.
Genesis Gives Butler a Lift
Genesis Parker scored a season-high 18 points on Thursday night vs. #18 DePaul. She set season-high marks in minutes played (36), rebounds (6), steals (4) and field goal attempts (18).
Team Leader
Okako Adika leads Butler in scoring (14.6), field goal percentage (48.8), 3-pointers made (22), offensive rebounds (25) and minutes played.
Up Next
Butler's game at Creighton set for Wednesday, Jan. 27 has been postponed. The Bluejays have paused all team activities. The schedule change will keep Butler at Hinkle for their next contest. They will host the Villanova Wildcats on Wednesday, Feb. 3. Tip is set for 6 PM.
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