Updated BIG EAST Notes

If you need a break from playoff football games, check out the wbb league matchup on ESPNU as No. 2/3 Notre Dame (13-1, 2-0 BIG EAST) hosts Rutgers at 3:30 p.m. The Scarlet Knights (9-6, 0-2 BIG EAST) lead the all-time series 16-12 and along with UConn, are the only two league teams that have a winning mark against the Irish.

In a contrast of styles, the Irish rank second in the league in scoring at 84 points per game. The Scarlet Knights rank fourth in the BIG EAST in defense allowing just 52 points per game. Notre Dame has won the last three games in the series, but Rutgers had won the previous five before that.

Jim Barbar (play-by-play) and Krista Blunk (color commentary) will call the game on television.

In action on Saturday, 12 league teams were in action across six conference games.

Road team managed three wins, led by No. 3/2 Connecticut (14-1, 2-1 BIG EAST) who won at Marquette (8-7, 0-2 BIG EAST) by the score of 85-51. Sophomore Kaleena Mosquda-Lewis led the team with 24 points and shot 9-of-14 from the field. Junior Stefanie Dolson added 20 points on 9-of-11.

According to the Associated Press, UConn junior Bria Hartley rolled her ankle in the first half. She played five minutes and is questionable for Tuesday’s game against Louisville. Freshman Breanna Stewart, who sprained her left ankle in practice Friday, did not play and is listed as day-to-day.

The Huskies take on No. 15/13 Louisville at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn. The 9 p.m. game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network. On Saturday, Louisville (14-3, 2-1 BIG EAST) won at Providence (5-10, 0-2 BIG EAST) by the score of 70-62.

Red-hot Villanova (13-2, 3-0 BIG EAST) was the other road team to win on Saturday. The Wildcats topped Pittsburgh (9-6, 0-2 BIG EAST) in the Steel City. It was the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week with highlights available here. Villanova has won four in a row and is off to its best start in conference play (3-0) since 2003.

Saturday also saw a trio of teams win at home. Syracuse (14-1, 2-0) beat Georgetown (10-6, 1-2 BIG EAST) by the score of 86-56. It was the largest margin of victory by either team in the 56-game series. Senior Kayla Alexander had 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks to lead the Orange. Alexander leads the BIG EAST in blocked shots (3.6) and ranks second in the league in scoring at 19.5 ppg. For Georgetown, senior Sugar Rodgers scored 17 points on 5-of-21 shooting. She also grabbed nine rebounds.

In Chicago, tremendous individual efforts were on display as DePaul senior Anna Martin scored 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting and 8-of-8 from the free throw line. USF senior Andrea Smith had 35 points and 10 rebounds, while shooting 11-of-32 from the field. The Blue Demons (13-4, 2-1 BIG EAST) pulled out a 91-75 win, while the Bulls (11-4, 0-2 BIG EAST) lost their second in a row.

St. John’s (8-6, 2-0 BIG EAST) remained undefeated in league play under the direction of new head coach Joe Tartamella as the Red Storm beat Seton Hall (7-9, 2-1 BIG EAST) at Madison Square Garden 72-46. The men’s team was not as successful as they lost to No. 19/22 Georgetown 67-51 in the first game of the doubleheader.

Material from interviews, school websites, the Associated Press wire service as well as league and team sources was used in this report. All times are Eastern