UConn women’s basketball to open Big East play at Seton Hall on Dec. 6

The Big East released its December women’s basketball schedule which will see UConn play four games before the holidays.

The Huskies’ first game back in the conference is at Seton Hall on Sunday, Dec. 6. UConn will then play what projects to be its home opener against Butler on Tuesday, Dec. 15 and will host Xavier on Saturday, Dec. 19. UConn closes the first part of its Big East slate on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at Villanova.

After the holiday break, the conference will resume play on Dec. 30, though it will release the schedule for that at a later date. Times and broadcast information will be announced “in the coming weeks” as well. UConn noted that “a decision is also forthcoming as to whether fans will be allowed to attend games at Gampel Pavilion and, if so, how many and under what restrictions and protocols.”

So far, these are the official dates on UConn’s schedule:

Nov. 28: Quinnipiac (HOF Challenge at Mohegan Sun)

Nov. 29: Maine/Mississippi State (HOF Challenge)

Dec. 4: Louisville (at Mohegan Sun)

Dec. 6: at Seton Hall

Dec. 15: Butler

Dec. 19: Xavier

Dec. 22: at Villanova

Jan. 7: at Baylor

Jan. 21: at Tennessee

UConn is also scheduled to play South Carolina, though a date has not yet been set. But with a nine-days between Seton Hall and Butler, the Huskies could potentially fill that gap with the Gamecocks.

The Huskies played at Seton Hall last season in non-conference play, taking a 92-78 win behind a 25-point, 12-rebound performance from Aubrey Griffin. UConn’s Dec. 15 meeting with Butler will be the first time the two programs ever meet. As for the following game against Xavier, the Huskies have only played them once — a tight 86-84 win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Gampel Pavilion.

At Big East Media Day on Thursday, UConn was picked to finish first in the Coaches’ Poll, while Seton Hall checked in at sixth, Villanova at seventh, Butler at eighth and Xavier at ninth.

The Huskies will play all its home games at Gampel Pavilion this season due to the pandemic. In a normal year, UConn typically play half their home games at the XL Center in Hartford.