University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Villanova
No. 7 UConn, Villanova to Face Off for BIG EAST Championship Monday
3/6/2022 10:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The top-seeded and seventh-ranked UConn women's basketball team (24-5, 16-1 BIG EAST) will take on No. 2-seed Villanova (23-7, 15-4) for the 2022 BIG EAST Tournament Championship on Monday at 8 p.m. in Mohegan Sun Arena. The game will air on FS1, the UConn Sports Network and Westwood One.
UConn is 93-13 (.877) all-time in conference tournaments. The Huskies have won 26 total conference tournament titles: 19 in the BIG EAST and seven in the American Athletic Conference. UConn will compete in the conference tournament championship game for the 18th straight season.
UConn beat No. 5-seed Marquette, 71-51, to advance to the championship game. Senior Evina Westbrook led UConn with 14 points while graduate student Dorka Juhász and senior Christyn Williams each had 13. Sophomore Aaliyah Edwards set a season high with 11 rebounds. The Huskies held the Golden Eagles to six points in the first quarter.
UConn is 38-18 all-time vs. Villanova. The Huskies suffered their first regular-season loss to a conference opponent since 2013 in a 72-69 setback to the Wildcats on Feb. 9. UConn and Villanova faced off in the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals exactly a year from Monday. The game was an 84-39 win for the Huskies.
No. 2-seed Villanova beat Seton Hall, 64-55, to advance to the championship game. Junior Maddy Siegrist led Villanova with 24 points and 14 rebounds. This season, Siegrist leads Villanova and ranks second nationally with 26.4 points per game. She also leads the team with 9.7 rebounds per game. Head coach Denise Dillon is in her second season at Villanova.
The BIG EAST Conference and Mohegan Sun Arena have adjusted the spectator policy for the 2022 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament. As a result of improving conditions locally and nationally surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, fans will not be required to show proof of COVID vaccination or a negative test for entry into the arena. Additionally, face coverings, while recommended, will not be required.
Sophomore Nika Mühl was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year as league awards were announced Thursday. This is the 11th time a Husky has been named conference defensive player of the year. Seniors Christyn Williams and Olivia Nelson-Ododa were named to the All-BIG EAST First Team. It was Williams' third time earning first team honors and Nelson-Ododa's first.
Freshman Caroline Ducharme and Azzi Fudd were both named to the All-Freshman Team. Ducharme also earned a spot on the BIG EAST All-Second Team.
