University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Marquette
Top-Seeded Huskies to Take on Marquette in BIG EAST Semifinals
3/5/2022 8:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The top-seeded UConn women's basketball team (23-5) continues BIG EAST Tournament play against No. 5-seed Marquette (21-9) in the semifinals Saturday at 3 p.m. in Mohegan Sun Arena. The game will air on FS1 and the UConn Sports Network.
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.
UConn beat Georgetown, 84-38, in the BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinals Saturday. Sophomore Paige Bueckers came off the bench to notch 16 points, five rebounds and four assists in 18 minutes. Senior Christyn Williams tallied 15 points and five steals. The Huskies held Georgetown to just nine points in the first half.
UConn is 92-13 (.876) 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 has been in the championship game of every conference tournament since 1993.
UConn is 13-0 all-time vs. Marquette. On Feb. 13, UConn came from down at the end of the third quarter to beat the Golden Eagles, 72-58, in Milwaukee. Azzi Fudd led UConn with 24 points in the game. On Feb. 23 in Hartford, Evina Westbrook led UConn with 17 points off the bench as UConn beat Marquette, 69-38. The Huskies and Golden Eagles faced off in the BIG EAST Tournament championship game last season, a 73-39 win for UConn.
No. 5-seed Marquette beat DePaul, 105-85, to advance to the semifinals. Five players scored in double digits, led by 26 from Liza Karlen. This season, Lauren Van Kleunen leads Marquette with 13.4 points per game. Head coach Megan Duffy is in her third season at Marquette.
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.
