Providence College Athletics
Providence College
Butler
Players Mentioned
Women's Basketball Game Notes vs. Butler
3/4/2021 3:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Friars begin BIG EAST Tournament action against the Bulldogs on March 5 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
FRIARS SET TO FACE BUTLER IN FIRST ROUND OF BIG EAST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT... The No. 7 seed Providence Friars will face the No. 10 seed Butler Bulldogs in the First Round of the 2021 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament presented by JEEP on Friday, March 5. All BIG EAST Tournament games will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Tip-off between the Friars and Bulldogs is set for 2:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network via FloHoops.
FRIARS EARN SEVENTH SEED FOR SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS... The Friars have claimed the No. 7 seed for the second time in the last three years, marking the highest BIG EAST Tournament seed for Providence since 1996. That year, Providence entered postseason play as a No. 2 seed.
FRIARS ALL-TIME AS A NO. 7 SEED... The Friars have claimed the No. 7 seed for just the third time in BIG EAST Tournament history. The Friars are 4-2 all-time as the seventh-seed. Providence was the No. 7 seed in 1993 and advanced to the BIG EAST Championship game. Providence entered the BIG EAST Tournament as the No. 7 seed in 2019 and advanced to the Quarterfinal Round.
1993 BIG EAST Tournament as No. 7 seed:
#7 Providence (81) def. #10 Boston College (71) - First Round
#7 Providence (82) def. #2 Georgetown (81) - Quarterfinals
#7 Providence (87) def. #3 Connecticut (73) - Semifinals
#1 Miami (77) def. #7 Providence (56) - Championship Game
2019 BIG EAST Tournament as No. 7 seed:
#7 Providence (70) def. #10 Xavier (62) - First Round
#2 DePaul (85) def. #10 Providence (60) - Quarterfinals
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE... A No. 7 seed has advanced to the BIG EAST Championship game four times since the tournament began in 1983, including one appearance by the Friars in 1993. Most recently, Creighton advanced to the BIG EAST Championship game as a No. 7 seed in 2016.
NO. 7 SEEDS ALL-TIME AT THE BIG EAST TOURNAMENT... The No. 7 seed has compiled a 37-38 record all-time in the BIG EAST Tournament, including a 8-7 mark since realignment (2013-14). Â
FRIARS ALL-TIME IN THE BIG EAST TOURNAMENT... When Providence tips-off against Butler on Friday, March 5 in the BIG EAST First Round, it will mark the program's 54th BIG EAST Tournament game overall. The Friars are 21-32 (.396) all-time in the BIG EAST Tournament.
THE ONE AND ONLY... Providence College captured its lone BIG EAST Tournament title in 1990. The Friars, who were the No. 2 seed, defeated top-seeded Connecticut, 82-61, at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn.
RUNNER-UP... Providence has advanced to the Championship Game six times. In addition to winning the BIG EAST title in 1990, the Friars finished as the BIG EAST Tournament runner-up in 1983, 1986, 1989, 1991 and 1992.
PROVIDENCE WINS A BIG EAST TOURNAMENT GAME IN BACK-TO-BACK SEASONS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1994 AND 1995... The Friars won a BIG EAST Tournament game in each of the last two seasons. In 2019, Providence defeated Xavier, 70-62, in the First Round. This year, the Friars posted a 49-46 win over Georgetown in the First Round. It marks the first time since 1994 and 1995 that the Friars have won a game in the BIG EAST Tournament in back-to-back seasons.
FRIARS AND BULLDOGS ALL-TIME... Providence and Butler have met 17 times during the history of the two programs. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 11-6. The Friars have earned victories in four of the last six meetings, including a season-sweep in 2020-21.
PROVIDENCE VS. BUTLER IN THE BIG EAST TOURNAMENT... The Friars and Bulldogs have met once during the BIG EAST Tournament. On March 3, 2018, Butler claimed a 73-67 victory, in overtime, during First Round action at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. Whitney Jennings, who currently serves as an assistant coach at Butler, scored 20 points and dished six assists in that game to help spur the Bulldogs' victory.
COMPETITIVE SERIES... Eleven of the 17 games between Providence and Butler have been decided by 10 points or less, including 10 games decided by single digits.
BY THE NUMBERS... Prior to a pair of double-digit wins by the Friars over the Bulldogs this season, the previous five games between Providence and Butler were decided by a single-digit margin, including three games in overtime.
OVERTIME... The Friars are 2-1 all-time vs. Butler in overtime games. Butler defeated Providence, 73-67, in overtime on March 3, 2018 in the BIG EAST Tournament First Round. The Friars swept the 2018-19 season series. On Jan. 18, 2019, the Friars claimed a 74-68 win in triple-overtime at Alumni Hall. On Feb. 17, 2019, Providence took a 66-63 win in overtime at Hinkle Fieldhouse.Â
TRIPLE OVERTIME... Providence and Butler competed in just the fourth triple-overtime game in BIG EAST women's basketball history on Jan. 18, 2019 at Alumni Hall in Providence, R.I. The Friars claimed a 74-68 victory on that day.
KEY PLAYERS IN THE SEASON SERIES... Kyra Spiwak paced the Friars in scoring in two games vs. Butler this season at 19.0 points per game, including a career-high 28 points on Dec. 5. Mary Baskerville averaged just shy of a double-double against the Bulldogs with 13.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 62.5-percent from the field (10-16) and adding 2.5 blocked shots and 1.5 assists in the series. Alyssa Geary was all over the stat sheet, averaging 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocked shots and a team-best 4.0 assists per game.
FRIARS COMING OFF OF 75-49 LOSS TO DE PAUL IN REGULAR-SEASON FINALE... Alyssa Geary registered 12 points, four rebounds, three steals, three assists and two blocks for Providence in a 75-49 loss to DePaul in the Friars' season finale. The Blue Demons entered the game on a two-game losing streak, hampered by poor shooting from beyond the arc, but came alive against Providence to hit 16-29 three-point attempts in Alumni Hall. Meanwhile, Providence shot just 2-11 from beyond the arc (.112) and just 36.8-percent overall (21-57). Lexi Held tallied a team-high 21 points for DePaul. Mary Baskerville joined Geary with 12 points as the only two players in double figures for Providence.
FRIARS SUFFER HEARTBREAKING LOSS TO VILLANOVA IN OVERTIME IN FINAL WEEKEND OF REGULAR-SEASON... Providence led by as many as nine (46-37) with 6:15 remaining in regulation and still maintained a 54-49 advantage with 35-seconds on the clock. Bella Runyan hit a three on the Wildcats' next possession to cut the deficit to two (54-52). Chanell Williams was fouled with 13-seconds left and had an opportunity to make it a two possession game with a four-point lead, but missed the first of two free throws (55-52). The BIG EAST's leading scorer, Maddy Siegrist, followed with a deep three-pointer to tie the game (55-55) with 6.1 seconds left, but the Friars were called for a five-second violation on the ensuing inbounds play after a timeout and the game went to overtime. Villanova outscored Providence 8-3 in the extra session to take a 63-58 win. Siegrist tallied 24 points for the Wildcats, while Mary Baskerville notched a double-double on 19 points and 12 boards.
DOUBLE-TROUBLE... Mary Baskerville recorded her team-best fifth double-double of the season against Villanova on Feb. 24, with 19 points and 12 rebounds. All five of her double-doubles this season have come during BIG EAST play. Overall, she owns 17 double-doubles in her career. During the Villanova game, she also added four blocked shots, three steals and one assist.
IMPORTANCE OF GETTING OFF TO A GOOD START... The Friars are 6-1 this season when leading at halftime. On the flip side, Providence has compiled an 0-12 record in games it is trailing at halftime. The Friars' only loss when leading at halftime came in the first meeting this season against Seton Hall (Jan. 3). Providence held a 41-32 lead at the break, but fell to the Pirates, 77-71.
GAMES IN THE 70s... Providence is 3-1 this season when scoring 70+ points. The Friars' only blemish came in a loss to Seton Hall on Jan. 3 (77-71).
SHOOTING THE ROCK... Providence has shot a higher percentage from the field than its opponents in 11 of its 19 games and have posted a 6-5 record in those contests. The Friars also are 5-1 on the year when shooting 45-percent or better.
DEFENSE... The Friars finished the regular-season schedule ranked fourth among BIG EAST Conference teams in scoring defense (63.7 ppg) and fourth in field goal percentage defense (.401). Providence has held 10 of its 19 opponents below 40-percent from the field this season.Â
BASKERVILLE RANKS FIFTH IN THE BIG EAST AND 22ND IN THE NATION IN FIELD-GOAL PERCENTAGE... Mary Baskerville leads the Friars in field-goal percentage (.546, 107-196) through the 18 games she has played. She completed the regular-season schedule ranked fifth in the BIG EAST Conference and 22nd in the nation among NCAA Division I players in field-goal percentage.Â
BLOCK PARTY... Juniors Mary Baskerville and Alyssa Geary have combined for 57 blocked shots this season, making them one of the top-shot blocking duos in the BIG EAST this season, trailing only UConn's Olivia Nelson-Ododa (40) and Aubrey Griffin (20), with 60 rejections. Baskerville ranks first in the BIG EAST in blocked shots per game (1.8 bpg) and Geary ranks sixth (1.3 bpg). Baskerville also led the BIG EAST in blocked shots last season with 51 rejections (1.8 bpg).
GEARY OWNS PROVIDENCE COLLEGE RECORD FOR BLOCKED SHOTS IN A BIG EAST TOURNAMENT GAME... Alyssa Geary set a Providence College record for blocked shots in a BIG EAST Tournament game (six) in last year's First Round match-up against Georgetown on March 6. Monika Roberts set the previous record (four) in 2001 vs. Seton Hall.
WILLIAMS MAKING AN IMPACT IN HER FINAL SEASON... Through 19 games this season, Williams is impacting every facet of the stat sheet. She's averaging 9.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Williams is shooting 39-percent from the field overall (69-178), including 43-percent from three-point territory (16-37). She has reached double figures in the scoring column eight times, including a season-best 20 points against St. John's on Dec. 19. It marked just the third 20-point game of her career.
WILLIAMS ADDED ANOTHER WEAPON TO HER GAME... Not known for her three-point shooting ability, Chanell Williams has shown marked improvement in that area of her game in 2020-21. She has ranked as high as second in the BIG EAST in three-point percentage, but recently fell out of the rankings due to league minimums for makes/attempts. Through 19 games, she has hit 16-37 attempts from beyond the arc (.432). Prior to this season, Williams converted just 8-41 three-point attempts (.195).Â
CLIMBING THE LADDER... Chanell Williams enters Friday's game with 306 career assists. She is currently ranked 13th all-time at Providence in career assists and is just the third Friar in the last decade to record 300-or-more assists during her career, joining Symone Roberts '13 (351) and Sarah Beal '17 (385).
ON THE BOARDS... Mary Baskerville leads the Friars in rebounding this season with 6.7 boards per game. In 81 career games, she has posted an average of 7.3 rebounds per game (588 total rebounds). It currently ranks as the eighth best career rebounding average in program history, and her 588 rebounds are currently rank 21st all-time at Providence College.
LONGTERM GOALS... Mary Baskerville enters Friday's BIG EAST First Round with 901 career points, and is on pace to become the 35th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000-point milestone. Through 81 career games and in the midst of just her third season with the team, she has averaged 11.1 points per game during her career. She has recorded double figures for the Friars 47 times during her career, including six 20+ point games.
ALYSSA GEARY FILLS THE STAT SHEET... Alyssa Geary currently ranks third on the team in scoring (11.1 ppg), rebounding (4.6 rpg) and assists (2.5 apg) and is second in blocked shots (1.3 bpg). She has reached double figures in the scoring column 13 times, including a career-best 22 points against Villanova (Feb. 3). Ten of her double-digit games have come during BIG EAST play. She is the only Friar to reach double figures in the scoring column in each of the last four games, and is averaging a team-best 13.3 points during that span, while also contributing 5.0 rebounds and a team-best 2.5 assists per game.
SWISS ARMY KNIFE... Senior Olivia Orlando contributes just 3.4 points per game for the Friars, but its hard to keep her off the floor given her impact on game in other areas. She averages a team-high 32.6 minutes per game for the Friars. Orlando can play every position on the floor, and ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.2 rpg) and assists (2.6 apg) and third in steals (1.1 spg).Â
20-POINT GAMES... Four Friars have scored 20-or-more points in a game this season. Mary Baskerville leads the way, having eclipsed the 20-point mark, twice, against Boston College on Dec. 2 and a career-high 24 points against Seton Hall on Jan. 3. She owns six 20-point games in her career. Kyra Spiwak became the second Friar to reach the 20-point plateau this season, scoring a career-high 28 points against Butler. It marked the second 20-point game of her career, and first 20-point game in BIG EAST Conference action. Chanell Williams scored a season-best 20 points against St. John's, marking the third 20-point game of her career. Alyssa Geary is the most recent Friar to reach the 20-point mark, with a career-best 22 against Villanova on Feb. 3. It marked the first 20-point game of her career.
SOPHIA WIDMEYER STEPPED UP FOR SHORT-HANDED FRIARS AT CREIGHTON... Junior Sophia Widmeyer has averaged 9.4 minutes off the bench this season in a reserve role, but she answered the bell when her team needed her the most in a win over Creighton on Feb. 10. The Friars traveled just seven active players to face the Bluejays. Widmeyer was called to action, playing a season-high 32 minutes. She grabbed a career-high nine rebounds and two steals, and hit the most critical shot of the game with 4:00 minutes left in regulation to halt a four-minute Providence scoring drought and give her team a 54-44 lead. Her shot sparked a 7-0 run and put the game away.
VETERAN PRESENCE... Seven of the 10 players on the Friars' 2020-21 roster are upperclassmen, including four seniors and three juniors. Each of those upperclassmen have some degree of experience in the starting line-up, with five of the seven starting 15 games or more a year ago.Â
ALYSSA GEARY AND MARY BASKERVILLE COMBINE FOR 29 POINTS IN 67-55 LOSS AT SETON HALL... Alyssa Geary (17) and Mary Baskerville (12) accounted for 29 points in a loss to Seton Hall on Feb. 20. Geary shot 6-10 from the field, including 2-4 from three-point territory, and matched her season high with nine rebounds. Baskerville shot 4-9 from the floor and grabbed six boards.
SLOW START HAMPERS FRIARS' EFFORTS AGAINST MARQUETTE... The Friars suffered a 73-52 loss against Marquette in Providence, R.I. on Jan. 13. Providence found itself trailing by as many as 15 in the first quarter and trailed 39-22 at halftime. In the final 20 minutes of play, the Friars went toe-to-toe with the Golden Eagles' offense, but the first half deficit proved too much to overcome. Marquette held just a slim four-point scoring margin in the second half (34-30). Mary Baskerville paced the Friars with 19 points, while Kyra Spiwak added 15. Jordan King and Selena Lott were among four players in double figures for Marquette, with 14 points each.
SHORT-HANDED FRIARS TAKE DOWN CREIGHTON ON THE ROAD... Providence College traveled to Omaha, Neb. with seven active players on Feb. 10 and left DJ Sokol Arena with a 60-48 victory. It marked just the second win all-time for the Friars on Creighton's home court. Providence led for 36:30 of the game, including a 14-point margin with 6:26 left in the third quarter. The Bluejays inched within 51-44 as Providence went scoreless for over four minutes of action. Sophia Widmeyer halted the run with a three-point bucket on the left wing to push the Friars' lead back to double digits (54-44), sparking a 7-0 run en route to a decisive win (60-48). Chanell Williams led all scorers with 17 points and added four rebounds, four assists, two steals and one blocked shot. Mary Baskerville registered her fourth double-double of the season on 14 points and 10 boards.
CHANELL WILLIAMS NAMED TO BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOR ROLL FOR SECOND TIME THIS SEASON... Senior guard Chanell Williams was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Jan. 11. It marked her second appearance on the league's weekly honor roll this season, having previously been recognized on Dec. 21. In a 1-1 week for the Friars, Williams averaged 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. She shot a combined 52.6-percent from the field, converting 10 of her 19 field goal attempts. She opened the week with 16 points and a career-high eight rebounds in a 62-50 victory over Butler on Jan. 7. Williams knocked down 7-12 shots from the field (.583), including 1-2 from beyond the three-point line. She also added three assists and two steals. On Jan. 9, Williams recorded a team-best four assists and two steals to go along with six points in the Friars' match-up against No. 3 Connecticut.
MARY BASKERVILLE NAMED TO BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOR ROLL FOR SECOND TIME THIS SEASON... Junior forward Mary Baskerville was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, Feb. 15. It marks the second time this season she has been added to the league's honor roll. In a 1-1 week for the Friars, Baskerville averaged 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 3.0 blocked shots per game. She shot a combined 60-percent from the field (15-25) and converted all three of her free-throw attempts. In the Friars' victory at Creighton, she posted her fourth double-double of the season on 14 points and 10 boards. She also added four blocked shots, three steals and one assist. Baskerville closed the week with 19 points against Marquette on 9-13 shooting from the field (.692). She also contributed two rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and a career-high six steals. Baskerville was previously named to the honor roll on Nov. 30.
KYRA SPIWAK EARNS BIG EAST WEEKLY RECOGNITION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER CAREER... Senior guard Kyra Spiwak was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 7. It marked the first weekly league honor of Spiwak's career with the Friars. Spiwak averaged 14.3 points per game in three contests last week, including 19.0 points per game in BIG EAST Conference play. She netted 10 points in the Friars' conference opener at Marquette (Dec. 4) and followed with a career-high 28 points at Butler the next day. Twenty-three of her 28 points against the Bulldogs came during the first half in just 17 minutes of action. For the game, Spiwak shot 10-17 from the field, including 8-12 from three-point territory.
A LOOK BACK AT THE 2019-20 SEASON... Providence completed the 2019-20 season with a 13-19 overall record and a 3-15 mark in the BIG EAST Conference (eighth place).
FRIARS TWO YEARS REMOVED FROM FIRST POST-SEASON APPEARANCE SINCE 2010... The Friars' 2019 WNIT selection marked the program's 15th post-season appearance overall and first since 2010. Last season, NCAA and WNIT Championships were canceled to the Covid-19 pandemic. Complete post-season breakdown below (records in parentheses).
2018-19 WNIT Round of 16 - (2-1)
2009-10 WNIT Quarterfinal Round (3-1)
1991-92 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1990-91 NCAA Tournament Second Round (1-1)
1989-90 NCAA Tournament East Regional (1-1)
1988-89 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1986-87 National Women's Invitational Tournament (1-2)
1985-86 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1981-82 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1980-81 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1979-80 EAIAW National Tournament (3-1)
1978-79 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1977-78 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-1)
1976-77 EAIAW Regional Tournament (2-2)
1975-76 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-2)
WHAT'S NEXT... The winner of Friday's First Round game between Providence and Butler will move on to the Quarterfinals to face No. 2 seed Marquette. That match-up is set for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 6 at Mohegan Sun Arena. The game will be nationally-televised on FS2.
