UConn vs. Marquette: A Big East Clash Loaded with Firepower and Familiar Faces
The top-ranked UConn Huskies are rolling into Wednesday night with momentum-and a whole lot of hardware. After dismantling then-No.
16 USC on the road by nearly 30 points, the Huskies returned home with their third sweep of the Big East Weekly Awards this season. Azzi Fudd earned Big East Player of the Week honors, while freshman Blanca Quiñonez was named Freshman of the Week.
That kind of dominance isn’t new for UConn, but it’s still impressive. The Huskies enter their matchup with Marquette riding a 26-game overall winning streak and a 14-game streak at home.
And when it comes to facing the Golden Eagles, history is firmly on UConn’s side. The Huskies lead the all-time series 22-1, with Marquette’s only win coming back in February 2023.
Since that upset, UConn has beaten the Golden Eagles six straight times-by an average margin of over 30 points.
But don’t expect a walkover on Wednesday. This one’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive matchups in the Big East so far.
A Sharpshooting Showdown
Both teams are among the best in the country at two things that win games: shooting the three and sharing the ball. Marquette comes in ranked No. 5 nationally in 3-point percentage at 39.91%, while UConn isn’t far behind at No. 9, hitting 39.57% from deep. That’s elite territory, and it sets the stage for a game where perimeter defense will be at a premium.
UConn leads the country in assists per game with 24.2-an eye-popping number that speaks to the team’s chemistry and offensive execution. Marquette is no slouch in that department either, sitting at No. 12 with 20.0 assists per game. The Golden Eagles are fresh off a 31-assist performance in their win over Le Moyne, their best single-game total since 2021.
So, what we’ve got here is a matchup between two of the most unselfish and efficient offensive teams in the country. Buckle up.
Marquette: Experience, Continuity, and a Big Three
Marquette was picked to finish second in the Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll, right behind UConn, and they’ve got the roster to back it up. The Golden Eagles returned every player from last season’s team-making them the only Division I program to run it back with the exact same roster. That kind of continuity is rare and valuable, especially in an era defined by transfers and roster turnover.
Head coach Cara Consuegra, now in her second season, has leaned into that stability. She’s started the same five players in 26 straight games, dating back to January 2025. Her core trio-Skylar Forbes, Halle Vice, and Lee Volker-has been the engine behind Marquette’s success.
Forbes, a junior forward, leads the team in scoring at 15.8 points per game and owns the program’s single-season blocks record. She was a unanimous All-Big East Preseason pick and has landed on the conference’s weekly honor roll three times this year.
Vice leads the team in rebounding with 8.0 boards per game and has also picked up multiple weekly honors. Volker, the graduate guard, brings experience and scoring punch at 11.9 points per game.
All three were named to the All-Big East Preseason Team, with Forbes and Volker earning unanimous selections. That trio is the heart of a team that finished 21-11 last season and reached the second round of the WBIT before falling in overtime to James Madison.
A Look at the Season So Far
Marquette opened the season strong with wins over Winthrop and Wisconsin, but hit a rough patch in November with losses to Minnesota, Gonzaga, and then-No. 10 Iowa State. They’ve since bounced back in conference play, opening Big East action with a dominant 85-54 win over DePaul before routing Le Moyne 89-42 on Sunday.
UConn, meanwhile, continues to look like a juggernaut. With Azzi Fudd averaging 18.1 points per game and freshman forward Sarah Strong right behind her at 17.5, the Huskies have firepower at every level. Add in contributions from KK Arnold, Ashlynn Shade, and Serah Williams, and it’s no wonder they’re sitting atop the rankings.
Familiar Faces on the Sidelines
There are a few Connecticut connections worth noting. Former Marquette star Natisha Hiedeman, now known for her time with the Connecticut Sun, was the Big East Player of the Year in 2019.
On the coaching side, Marquette assistant Khadijah Rushdan played alongside UConn legends Tina Charles and Maya Moore on the 2006 Team USA U18 squad. And head coach Cara Consuegra, a former Iowa point guard, faced UConn twice during her college days.
Game Info
**No. 1 UConn vs.
Marquette**
📍 PeoplesBank Arena
🕖 Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET
📺 Peacock
📻 UConn Sports Network & SiriusXM
Projected Starters
Marquette
- Halle Vice (G) - 13.2 PPG
- Skylar Forbes (F) - 15.8 PPG
- Lee Volker (G) - 11.9 PPG
- Jaidynn Mason (G) - 9.9 PPG
- Olivia Porter (G) - 6.2 PPG
UConn
- KK Arnold (G) - 7.1 PPG
- Azzi Fudd (G) - 18.1 PPG
- Ashlynn Shade (G) - 8.3 PPG
- Sarah Strong (F) - 17.5 PPG
- Serah Williams (F) - 7.3 PPG
This one’s got all the ingredients: two top-tier offenses, elite shooters, and a whole lot of familiarity. UConn is playing like a team with championship aspirations, but Marquette has the veteran presence and continuity to make things interesting. Don’t be surprised if this turns into one of the best games of the Big East season.