The quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Tournament gave us four games: three close ones, and then one where we witnessed what happens when you “poke the Husky.”
Marquette wins a tight one over Villanova
First, in a relatively low-scoring game, Marquette managed to eke out a win over Villanova, 50-48. This has been a down year for Villanova after losing Maddy Siegrist to the WNBA. However, Lucy Olsen has taken up the slack. I can’t say the same for the rest of the team, at least not from yesterday’s game. Villanova played ten, of whom only six scored, and only Olsen and Christina Dalce hit double figures, with Dalce just barely doing it.
Marquette didn’t do much better, with only Liza Karlen, Skylar Forbes, and Mackenzie Hare hitting doubles. These three accounted for 35 of Marquette’s 50 points. Villanova had brief leads of five points in the first quarter, one in the third, and a tie in the fourth, but the tank ran out of gas and Marquette managed to take the final lead on a Mackenzie Hare three-pointer.
Jordan King‘s free throws extended the Marquette lead to five, but a trey from Lucy Olsen got Villanova to within two, but that was it. Lackluster? I’d say so, and knowing the Marquette will face UConn in the semi-finals means they’d better step up big time if they want to have a chance. My guess is that UConn is salivating for a three-peat, after handily beating Marquette in regular season play.
Creighton stays alive in the BIG EAST Tournament
Creighton and Seton Hall played a more respectable game, which was tight all the way, with Seton Hall holding a one-point lead at the half, 34-33. The third quarter was more of the same, but a layup and free throw for Morgan Maly put the Bluejays up three at the end of the third. In the fourth, Creighton added five more points and held Seton Hall scoreless until the 7:35 mark when Micah Gray made a layup, bringing the score to 58-52.
BIG EAST DUBBBBB CLUBBBBBBB#GoJays pic.twitter.com/wYlUNEtlL7
— Creighton Women’s Basketball (@CreightonWBB) March 10, 2024
An Azana Baines layup got Seton Hall to within three, but four free throws by Morgan Maly put Creighton up to 72-65, which is where the game ended. Creighton, being a ranked team, is going to have to do a lot better than that to survive the NCAA Tournament. Interestingly, the last regular season game that Creighton played was against Seton Hall.
That game also ended 72-65. Make of that what you will, but I’ve always said that practice doesn’t make perfect; it makes permanent. You do something the same way every time, that’s how you’ll always do it. Whether it is perfect or not is a matter of opinion.
Hoyas take care of the Red Storm by nine
In yet another low-scoring game, Georgetown outlasted St. John’s and won 53-44. Georgetown won wire to wire, even though they accumulated 15 turnovers and 16 fouls to St. John’s 13 turnovers and 9 fouls. St. John’s managed to score 11 points off of turnovers, while Georgetown scored only 6. The Hoyas had only two players in double figures, as did the Red Storm.
I’m not sure how much of a storm St. John’s provided, but apparently, Georgetown had a large enough umbrella to weather it. Georgetown faces Creighton in the semi-finals. Georgetown has won their last five games, while Creighton is 4-1, the only loss coming to UConn.
UConn cruises in the 30-point win over Providence
And finally, we come to Providence and UConn. UConn took the first quarter, although the Friars had a brief 2-point lead early on an Emily Archibald layup, followed by an Olivia Olsen jumper, making it 7-3 Providence. Then a layup by Aaliyah Edwards and a three by Ashlynn Shade gave UConn the lead, which they held for the quarter, ending at 26-13. Providence took the second quarter 15-12 and went into the locker room trailing 38-28.
And then came the third quarter. Marta Morales Romero brought the Friars to within five with a layup and a three. Nika Mühl’s layup brought it to 40-33. Aaliyah Edwards hit one of two free throws, and Marta Morales Romero hit a jumper. 41-35 UConn. And then – Aaliyah Edwards went down on what turned out to be an intentional foul—time out. Then Paige Bueckers missed the two free throws awarded for the foul, but Nika Mühl came back with a layup.
Vintage Paige Bueckers
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) March 9, 2024
– 29 points
– 10-23 FG
– 5-10 3FG
– 9 rebounds
– 6 assists
– 3 blocks
– 3 steals pic.twitter.com/sRnUBzFHgF
Both teams traded buckets for a bit, but Providence had made an egregious error – they poked the Husky. Seeing another teammate go down both saddened and angered the Huskies, and UConn outscored Providence 45-18 for the rest of the game. At this writing, we don’t yet know what the status is for Edwards, but the Huskies made a statement that they have the ability to step up, which they indeed did in fashion.
It speaks to the resolve that this team has and has needed for a couple of years. I anticipate an energetic and determined game against Marquette who, if they have learned anything from this game, is don’t poke the Husky. Ever.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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