No. 1 seed UConn women’s basketball vs. No. 2 seed Marquette: time, how to watch, broadcasters, preview
Two games down, one to go — with 40 minutes standing between a 26th conference tournament title (and first in the Big East since 2012) for the top-ranked and top-seeded Huskies.
The UConn women will face off against No. 2-seed Marquette on Monday at 8 p.m. in their 17th consecutive conference final appearance. UConn beat the Golden Eagles in their previous two meetings this season, most recently beating them 63-53 at home on March 1. Marquette advanced to the tournament final with a 68-43 win over Providence Saturday and 64-59 victory over sixth-seeded Creighton on Sunday evening.
Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:
Site: Mohegan Sun Arena
Time: 8 p.m.
Series: UConn leads, 11-0
Last meeting: No. 1 UConn 63, Marquette 53, in Storrs, March 1
TV: FS1 (Lisa Byington, Sarah Kustok)
Radio: UConn IMG Sports Network on 97.9 ESPN
Marquette probable starters, sixth man:
Selena Lott, G, 5-11, Sr.; Lauren Van Kleunen, F, 6-2, R-Sr.; Camryn Taylor, F, 6-2, So.; Jordan King, G, 5-11, So.; Chloe Marotta, F, 6-1, Jr.; Taylor Valladay, G, 5-7, So.
UConn probable starters, sixth man:
Christyn Williams, G, 5-11, Jr.; Olivia Nelson-Ododa, F, 6-5, Jr.; Evina Westbrook, G, 6-0, R-Jr.; Nika Muhl, G, 5-10, Fr.; Paige Bueckers, G, 5-11, Fr.; Aaliyah Edwards, F, 6-3, Fr.
The matchup
UConn’s offense: In their two previous meetings, the Huskies averaged 75 points on 49.2 percent shooting against Marquette. Last Monday, UConn’s offense sputtered against the Golden Eagles, looking discombobulated at times and forced to play mostly in the half court. The Huskies scored only two fast-break points that day, but Nelson-Ododa and Edwards carried the team in the second half by dominating in the paint.
UConn’s defense: Continuing to impress each and every game. Across the first two games of the Big East Tournament, the Huskies have allowed their opponents to score an average of 40 points on 26.1 percent shooting. Their defense against Villanova ON Sunday may have been their best of the season.
Marquette’s offense: The Golden Eagles averaged 55.5 points on 40.9 percent shooting in their two prior games against the Huskies this season. Lott is coming off a 27-point outing in the semifinal, hitting 11 of her 15 shots. She is averaging 14.7 points, 5.4 assists and 5.5 rebounds on the season — though against UConn, she’s scored a combined 10 points across two games.
Marquette’s defense: Marquette’s defense and rebounding have been its calling cards this season, and are both second-best in the Big East behind UConn. In their two tournament wins this weekend, the Golden Eagles allowed 51 points on 35.8 percent shooting.
UConn keys: Create opportunities to push in transition with defense; rebound; control the paint
Player to watch: Coming off an 18-point, eight-assist outing in the semifinals, Bueckers looked much more herself Sunday. Just last week against Marquette, she didn’t have a great night, going 6-for-17 from the field and managing only one assist. Can she channel her semifinal performance and come through for the Huskies with a conference title on the line?
About Marquette’s coach: Megan Duffy, a 2006 Notre Dame alum, made a splash in her first season in Milwaukee, winning Big East coach of the year last season after her team was picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll. She guided the Golden Eagles to a 24-8 record, and they fell to DePaul in conference tournament championship game.
Marquette’s mascot: Golden Eagle
Famous alumni: Late U.S. Sen. Joe McCarthy, sportswriter Steve Rushin, NBA player Jae Crowder
Alexa Philippou can be reached at aphilippou@courant.com.
