Women's Basketball Set To Begin 2000-01 Campaign
11/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 3, 2000
UPCOMING GAMES:
Mon. Nov. 6 vs. Houston Jaguars, 7 p.m., U.S. Cellular Arena
Sat. Nov. 11 vs. Chicago Challengers, 2 p.m., U.S. Cellular Arena
Preparations began three weeks ago for the 2000-01 season and the tests begin for Marquette with the exhibition season. The Golden Eagles open their set of exhibition contests with the Houston Jaguars on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Originally scheduled to take on Gustino Powerbasket of Austria, travel problems left Gustino in Europe. They were replaced by the Jaguars.
On Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena, Marquette tips off against the Chicago Challengers in its final exhibition contest. MU will have six days before opening the regular season on Nov. 17 at Iowa.
SCOUTING THE HOUSTON JAGUARS
The Houston Jaguars are a semiprofessional league team that competes in the National Women's Basketball League. The NWBL is composed of three divisions competing in a championship tournament format. The Jaguars compete in the league's top division. Teams in the top division must have seven players that have WNBA, international professional, NCAA Division I or NAIA playing experience. The rest of the team can come from any level of play except the WNBA (teams may have two WNBA players on their squad).
In April, the Jaguars competed in the NWBL championship tournament's upper division and were named the second seed. They advanced to the semifinals where they were defeated by the Houston Flight. By advancing to the semifinals, the Jaguars have earned qualification for next year's NWBL championship tournament.
The Jaguars are under the direction of coach Kevin Cook, who serves as an assistant to Van Chancellor with the Houston Comets. Two players are currently on WNBA rosters -- Jamika Jones with the Miami Sol and Jawann Kelley-Gibson with the Houston Comets. The Jaguars are a tall squad, with only one player under 5-foot-10 and center Nickia Morris, who played collegiately at Pittsburgh, is 6-foot-6.
The Jaguars begin their exhibition tour on Nov. 2 against Ball State and meet Illinois on Nov. 4 before taking on Marquette. They conclude the tour with Northwestern, DePaul, Central Michigan, Michigan State and Michigan.
SCOUTING THE CHICAGO CHALLENGERS
The Chicago Challengers are Marquette's second exhibition opponent. The Golden Eagles and Challengers tip off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
Under head coach Karen Stack Umlauf, the Challengers are taking part in an 11-game exhibition tour of midwest colleges. The Challengers begin on Thursday, Nov. 2 with a game at Western Michigan. Before meeting Marquette, the Challengers play Northern Illinois, DePaul, Ill.-Chicago and Loyola (Ill.). They wrap up their tour with games at Bradley, Lewis, Northwestern and UW-Milwaukee.
Comprised of a lineup of athletes from midwest colleges who have recently used up their eligibility, one player on the Chicago squad is very familiar with Marquette. Center Abbie Willenborg, Marquette's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, is a member of the Challengers' team. A four-year letterwinner, Willenborg led Marquette to four-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament and finished her career leading MU to a pair of regular-season C-USA titles.
Also familiar to Marquette is a trio of players from DePaul. Anne McDonald, Kris Rastrelli and Mfon Udoka have all visited the U.S. Cellular Arena for games with the Golden Eagles. One other player, Roscelle Bullock, has C-USA experience. Bullock played her college ball at Louisville.
LAST SEASON
Marquette advanced to the NCAA Tournament by virtue of a 22-7 record. Its 14-2 mark in Conference USA earned it the C-USA regular season crown. The year started off with Marquette winning seven of its first eight contests. At three different times during the season did the Golden Eagles have extensive winning streaks -- one of five, one of six and one of eight. Three seniors led the way for Marquette. Abbie Willenborg, Lisa Oldenburg and Kiesha Oliver were the focal point of the team, scoring 60 percent of the points. The trio also became 1,000-point scorers during the course of last season with Willenborg becoming the all-time leader in scoring and rebounding for Marquette. Defense was the name of the game for the Golden Eagles as they led the conference in field goal percentage defense, holding their opponents to a 36.4 shooting pace. That total was good for 10th in the nation. Marquette also led the conference in offensive rebounding and blocked shots.
MARQUETTE PICKED SECOND IN AMERICAN DIVISION BY C-USA COACHES
The two-time defending regular season Conference USA Champion Marquette women's basketball team is picked second in the American Division by the league's 12 coaches, the conference office announced.
Marquette, who went 22-7 overall and 14-2 in Conference USA play, trails DePaul in the American Division. The Golden Eagles return two starters from that team -- senior Heidi Bowman and junior Kristi Johnson. Bowman averaged 8.9 points a year ago, while Johnson scored 7.6 points per game and added 3.0 assists per game. Bowman and Johnson are part of a squad that has won back-to-back regular season Conference USA titles and has made four-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Last season, Marquette split its games with DePaul. The Blue Demons are coming off an 18-12 year overall with a 10-6 conference record. De Paul returns all five of its starters, including preseason All-C-USA forward Lenae Williams.
Tulane, coming off its sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and second consecutive conference tournament championship, is the favorite to win the National Division and Conference USA. The Green Wave return three starters -- Sarah Goree, Kelly Scanlon and Janell Burse -- who averaged a combined 30.4 points per game last year.
Picked second in the National Division, UAB is led by Preseason Player of the Year in Conference USA, Deanna Jackson. Jackson averaged 19.0 points and 11.7 rebounds as she led the Blazers to the NCAA Sweet 16.
HOME SWEET HOME
With a 13-0 home record in 1999-2000, Marquette has amassed a 21-game winning streak at home. Marquette suffered its last home loss on Jan. 1, 1999, a 61-58 defeat at the hands of Cincinnati.
Heading into the 2000-2001 season, Marquette has won 62 percent of all its home games in its 25 previous seasons. Marquette is 176-110 all-time at home prior to this season and is 90-38 (.679) at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
In Terri Mitchell's four previous seasons, Marquette is 44-5 (.900) at home.
1,000-POINT CLUB
Last season, three Marquette players -- Abbie Willenborg, Lisa Oldenburg and Kiesha Oliver -- ended their careers with over 1,000 points. This season, with a little work, senior Heidi Bowman could join the 1,000-point club. Just 15 players in Marquette history have scored at least 1,000 points while at MU.
Bowman has 714 career points and needs 286 points to reach that plateau. Only one season in her career, however, has Bowman scored that many points. In 1998-99, Bowman scored 331 points for the season (11.4 points per game). Last season, Bowman scored 258 points.
THREE POINT MASTER, PASSING WIZARD
Junior Kristi Johnson has her sights on moving up on the all-time Marquette lists for a pair of shooting records and one for assists. Currently, Johnson is fourth on the all-time three point field goals made list and sixth on the attempted list. Johnson has 93 career three point baskets and 268 career attempts. Next on the list of three pointers made is Courtney Romesiser with 152. Trailing Romesiser by 59, Johnson would have to set a personal season best for three pointers in a season as she needs 59 to tie Romesiser.
Johnson is also sixth in attempts with 268. Next on the list is Kerri Reaves, who attempted 287 treys in her career. Also within reach is Kiesha Oliver who launched 303 career trifecta attempts.
Also within reach for Johnson is the top-10 list for assists. Beginning the 2000-2001 season, Johnson has 193 career assists. Oliver is 10th on the list with 261. Johnson needs 69 dishes to pass Oliver. Also within reach is ninth place. Debbie Stampley currently occupies ninth place with 268.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The Marquette women's basketball team pursues a fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament with a schedule that includes 14 home contests, games with five NCAA tournament teams -- Notre Dame, Brigham Young, Michigan, UAB, and Tulane -- from a year ago, and the Conference USA Postseason tournament.
"We've had an outstanding schedule in previous years, and this year is no different," head coach Terri Mitchell stated.