Providence women’s basketball picked for third in Big East; who’s above them

NEW YORK — Providence College could be set to both move forward and turn back the clock if its women’s basketball season plays out as predicted.

The Friars were selected third on Wednesday morning at the league’s annual media day, which was held at Madison Square Garden. Perennial power Connecticut was the unanimous favorite while Creighton picked up a lone remaining first-place vote, one obligatorily cast for a different program by Huskies coach Geno Auriemma.

Providence hasn’t finished at .500 in conference play since the 1995-96 season, its last under school Hall of Fame coach Bob Foley. He’s the only leader at Alumni Hall who has been able to reach the NCAA Tournament, doing so five times from 1985-96. Second-year head coach Erin Batth and her roster are stoking the sort of optimism that’s rarely been generated by the Friars over the last three decades.

“To have them think of us in that way is a true blessing,” Batth said. “It blows me away. But again, reality is about the process and the journey — let’s do that.”

The Huskies, Bluejays and Friars were the only three teams in the league who had multiple players selected to the all-conference team. Grace Efosa and Olivia Olsen were among the 10 named preseason All-Big East, a veteran guard and forward, respectively. They’re two of the combined 10 graduate students or seniors on the Friar roster entering 2024-25.

“The Big East has always been a very good league,” Efosa said. “We’re excited to play all these teams. Any given night, it’s just going to be a fun game.”

“We’re very thankful to be in the spot we’re in,” Olsen said. “We’re going to try our best and work very hard to stay in that spot or be above it.”

More: Providence women’s basketball full schedule released. Here are who and when they’ll play.

Providence reached the WNIT in Batth’s debut season, finishing 13-21 overall. The Friars started well with victories over Vermont, the University of Rhode Island and Yale. Two straight wins to open conference play was a first in more than two decades, but a following trio of four-game losing streaks exposed how much work remains left to be done.

“I’m going to trust the process more,” Batth said. “I’m the microwave cooker — I want it right now. Trusting the process, if you do that, things will work out.”

Efosa averaged 12.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in 23 games last season, including 23 points in a conference tournament quarterfinal defeat against UConn at Mohegan Sun. Olsen totaled 13.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots while hitting for 12 double-doubles. They set up as a capable outside-inside punch for Providence to build around.

“We’re working hard,” Efosa said. “We’re trying to be perfect so it can be easy for us in a game. We’re trying to get after it.”

“A lot of experience on our side,” Olsen said. “Especially with a couple of people coming from different programs — they have their experience they can carry over. I think that will be to our advantage on the court.”

More: Providence women’s basketball secures 4 recruits from the Class of 2025.

MacKayla Scarlett (Xavier) arrived via transfer and Kylee Sheppard (concussion protocol) was cleared to return after being limited to just six games last season. That gave the Friars some unexpected depth at point guard ahead of incoming first-year player Orlagh Gormley. Providence could be set up to execute on some of those key possessions where it fell just shy last season.

“It wasn’t by design, but it worked out,” Batth said. “I’m excited about it in this moment right now. Next year, when they’re gone, call me again.”

St. John’s, Georgetown, Villanova, Seton Hall, Butler, DePaul, Marquette and Xavier followed the Friars in the predicted standings.

The Huskies garnered the major awards, including Preseason Player of the Year honors for guard Paige Bueckers. Taking them down is a different challenge entirely — Providence is starting with attempting to defend what’s expected.

“I just can’t wait to see everybody on the court,” Olsen said. “We’ve been working so hard in practice. I think it’s really going to pay off.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25 

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence women’s basketball picked for third in Big East