The seventh-ranked UConn women’s basketball team (11-2, 2-0) travels to Milwaukee to take on the Marquette Golden Eagles (9-3, 1-0) in a New Year’s Day clash at the Al McGuire Center.
The Huskies are fresh off a 26-point victory over conference-foe Providence, forcing 31 turnovers and leading by as many as 22 points in the first quarter.
The Golden Eagles hung 78 points on DePaul that same day, downing the Blue Demons by 19-points while shooting over 50% from the field.
Marquette’s three losses have all come within 12 points – UCF by seven, Illinois by 12 and Bowling Green State by two – and the Golden Eagles have scored 78 or more points on six occasions.
Sophomore Skylar Forbes is one of two underclassmen inside the top three of team scoring (Halle Vice). Forbes averages 15 points, 4.8 defensive rebounds, 1.6 steals and two blocks per game for the Golden Eagles, eclipsing her average by scoring 18 in the team’s victory over DePaul on Sunday.
Other scoring contributors include Lee Volker (14.3 ppg, 59.3% 2P%, 58.1% eFG%) and Halle Vice (10.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg). Junior guard Olivia Porter leads the team in assists with 3.5 per night and has dished out 27 to Volker and Forbes combined.
The Golden Eagles have struggled from behind the arc this season, notching a 31.6% mark on 18.7 attempts per game. Marquette has evolved into a transition-oriented team, attempting 54.4% of shots on fast break opportunities.
While not sporting the tallest lineup, newly-minted head coach Cara Consuegra’s team makes due with a 36.1% offensive rebound percentage (which ranks in the 82nd percentile).
Exploiting the Golden Eagles’ lack of height (no players are over 6’3”) should be on the mind of the Connecticut guards while running the movement-oriented offense.
UConn remained at No. 7 in the AP Top-25 Poll after its win over Providence on Sunday, being one of 20 teams to stay put in the week nine poll. LSU (15-0), Texas (13-1), USC (12-1), Notre Dame (11-2), South Carolina (12-1) and UCLA (13-0) are the only teams ranked above the Huskies, who notched appearance number 565 inside the AP top-ten.
Azzi Fudd’s gradual return to the lineup will look to continue today, with Geno Auriemma admitting he let the sharp-shooting guard play over his goal of 20-minutes in the win over Providence.
“It was good to get her back. When she gets her legs under her, things will be even better,” Auriemma said post-game. The fourth year guard scored eight points on a 2/6 mark from deep during the win over the Friars. “I don’t see it that much,” Auriemma added when asked about Fudd’s fear of re-aggravating the knee that cost her over a week of game action.
The Huskies and Golden Eagles will meet for the first time since March of 2024, when Connecticut held the Marquette offense to nine second half points in a 58-29 victory. The series tilts in favor of UConn historically, with the Huskies leading 19-1 since 2007.