Preview: Marquette at Saint John’s in Big East Women’s Basketball

NEW YORK (Interstat) — A pivotal Big East women’s basketball rematch awaits Wednesday night as the surging Saint John’s Red Storm host the Marquette Golden Eagles at Carnesecca Arena.

Saint John’s (15-5, 5-2 Big East) enters with momentum, sitting just a game back in the conference standings following a dramatic 66-64 road win at Xavier on Saturday. The Red Storm’s success has been fueled by the explosive scoring of guard Sa’Mya Wyatt, who poured in a career-high 28 points in that victory. Wyatt’s performance marked a stunning turnaround from her limited role in the first meeting with Marquette, where she played just eight minutes.

Marquette (11-7, 3-4) seeks to halt a two-game skid and avenge a 73-66 home loss to these same Red Storm on Dec. 29. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 54-63 home defeat to Georgetown, their second consecutive loss after a three-game conference win streak. Guard Lee Volker has been a consistent bright spot, leading the team in scoring in each of the last two games, including a 16-point effort against the Hoyas.

The December matchup saw Saint John’s overcome a 10-point halftime deficit at Marquette, powered by a balanced attack. The Golden Eagles will need to contain a more confident Wyatt this time around while jump-starting an offense that managed just 54 points in its last outing.

Defensive intensity will likely dictate the tempo. Saint John’s boasts one of the league’s top defenses, holding opponents to 39 points in a win over Butler earlier this month. Marquette’s defense, however, has been inconsistent, yielding an average of 73 points in its four conference losses compared to 57.3 in its three wins.

With both teams jockeying for position in a crowded Big East race, Wednesday’s contest carries significant weight. A win for Saint John’s would solidify its place among the conference’s top tier, while Marquette aims to get back to .500 in league play and prove its early-season victory over then-Creighton was no fluke.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST.