Preview: Providence Friars at Marquette Golden Eagles

MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — The Marquette women’s basketball team looks to solidify its standing in the Big East Conference when it hosts the struggling Providence Friars on Wednesday night at the Bradley Center.

The Golden Eagles (15-7 overall) enter the matchup on a four-game winning streak, most recently a 67-59 road victory at Georgetown on Sunday. Guard Lee Volker has been a consistent force, averaging 13.4 points over the last seven contests. She scored 22 points in 40 minutes against the Hoyas. Forward Halle Vice provides a major interior presence, coming off a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Providence (10-13) seeks to halt a three-game skid, having fallen 62-57 to Saint John’s at home on Saturday. The Friars’ fortunes often hinge on the performance of guard Sabou Gueye, who has scored 22 or more points in three of her last six outings. She led the team with 18 points and six rebounds in the loss to the Red Storm. However, Providence has lost eight of its last 10 games, with defensive consistency being a recurring issue.

This contest pits one of the league’s hotter teams against one searching for momentum. Marquette has found ways to win close conference games, evidenced by narrow victories over DePaul (74-73) and Saint John’s (56-55) in recent weeks. Providence, meanwhile, has struggled to close, with five of its last seven losses coming by double digits.

The Golden Eagles won the first meeting this season, 85-69, on Jan. 4 in Milwaukee. Volker scored 19 points in that game.

For Providence, containing Volker and Vice while finding consistent secondary scoring behind Gueye will be critical. For Marquette, protecting home court is essential as it navigates a challenging upcoming schedule that includes games against Connecticut and Villanova later this month.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST Wednesday in Milwaukee.