After starting its 2026-27 campaign with a high-scoring win against Tennessee Tech, the women’s basketball team is looking for its second win of the week against Lipscomb.
Here is what you need to know before the Bulldogs and Bisons tip off:
Who: Butler vs. Lipscomb
When: Nov. 5, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse
How to watch: ESPN+
Quick start to the season
Under head coach Maria Marchesano, the Bulldogs adopted a style of play that emphasizes attacking quickly in transition. Butler recorded 26 assists against the Golden Eagles — the team has not averaged more than 14 assists per game since the 2009-10 season, when it averaged 21 per game.
Marchesano’s starting lineup — senior forward Lili Krasovec, senior guard Judit Valero, senior guard Nevaeh Jackson, redshirt junior guard Saniya Jackson and junior guard Tamar Singer — combined for 20 of the team’s 26 assists.
A strong offense starts with a strong defense, which was the reason Marchesano sent those five on the court first.
“I think we have probably seven or eight kids that we could consider starters on this team,” Marchesano said. “We just finally said, ‘Hey, we’re going to start the season with this lineup.’ [That] doesn’t mean it can’t change, but we feel like we want to be a defensive-minded team, and that starting five is probably our five best defenders on the team. That helps us play fast; that helps us get out, run and get those kick-ahead layups.”
Although the Bulldogs also had 16 turnovers — some of which came in transition as players were trying to move down the court quickly — their high speed of play led to 16 steals and 29 points off turnovers. The balance of an unselfish offense and a quick and dominant defense could make the team a threat later in the season if it can clean up the turnovers.
Scouting Lipscomb
In the Bisons’ first game, they were thrashed 112-53 by No. 8 Vanderbilt. Senior guard McKayla Miller led the way with 16 points and six rebounds, but struggled to find the net — Miller only made 2-of-8 from three.
On the other hand, redshirt first-year guard Tess Wiczek consistently made shots — going 3-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from beyond the arc — but also committed a team-high eight turnovers, which Vanderbilt took advantage of as the Commodores scored 42 points off turnovers.
Scoring in transition and capitalizing on mistakes will be key for the Bulldogs again. If the Dawgs can clean up their game while taking advantage of their speed, it will be another easy victory for Butler.