Women's Basketball Seeks to End Four-Game Losing Skid
1/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2001
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Marquette (4-8) at UAB (9-3) Jan. 5 * 7 p.m. EST *?Bartow Arena (8,500) Radio: none, TV: none
Marquette travels to Alabama to take on Conference USA foe UAB in its efforts to end a four-game losing streak. The streak is the first such for the Golden Eagles in Terri Mitchell's tenure and is the first losing streak of this length since the 1990-91 season.
Ending the streak at UAB will be a difficult task, however, as the Blazers have one of the nation's most talented performers in Deanna Jackson. Jackson's 29.4 points per game ranks second in the country and her ability on the glass is evident as well as she is also second in the land in that category.
Scouting UAB
Another tough test awaits Marquette in the form of UAB. The Blazers who advanced to the Regional Semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago are as talented as they were in 1999-2000. Led by Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year Deanna Jackson, UAB has a 9-3 record to start the year.
Six days separates the Blazers from its last game on Dec. 31 to its next game, a Jan. 5 contest with Marquette. Not having left home since Dec. 6 and having played just three games in the last 24 days prior to the MU game, UAB should be well rested and ready to play, especially if its 78-51 win over Memphis on Dec. 31 was any indication. Jackson scored 35 points in that contest. Shaquetta Rhodes scored 20 as the Blazers ran away from Memphis in its C-USA opener.
Jackson has proven extremely difficult to stop. She has already posted a 38-point effort and a pair of 35-point games this season and is averaging 29.5 points per game. She has led UAB in scoring in every game this season, scoring no less than 20. A force on the glass, Jackson has led the Blazers in rebounding every game this season, recording a season-low of nine. She has 11 double doubles on the year. Her totals of nearly 30 points per game ranks second in the nation and her 13.5 rebounds per game mark is also second in the country.
UAB is one of the most accurate shooting team's in the league, hitting 47.8 percent of its shots. The Blazers grab nearly 40 rebounds per game and score at a 75.5 points per game clip.
The Blazers are tough at home, having not lost in six attempts this season.
Last season: Marquette needed overtime on Jan. 20, 2000, to post a win in Milwaukee, 72-69. Kiesha Oliver's 22 points combined with Lisa Oldenburg's 21 countered a balanced effort from UAB.
The Blazers got revenge, however, in the C-USA Tournament. The UAB defense held Marquette to a 34 percent shooting day and held Oliver, Oldenburg and Willenborg to 35 total points in the 71-61 win. Again, a balanced attack by UAB had four players with 13 or more points.
Series history: Marquette leads, 8-7.
Possible Starters
Marquette G Kristi Johnson, 5-6, Jr., 6.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg
G Rashida Gales, 5-8, So., 3.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg
G Heidi Bowman, 6-0, Sr., 16.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg
F Kristin Seffern, 6-2, So., 4.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg
C Sarah Zawodny, 6-4, Jr., 10.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg
UAB G Brandi Stallings, 5-9, Sr., 6.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg
G Angie Gorton, 6-0, Jr., 10.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg
F Deanna Jackson, 6-2, Jr., 29.4 ppg, 13.4 rpg
F Mia Thrash, 5-9, Sr., 13.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg
C Vanessa White, 5-9, Fr., 2.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg
Scouting Memphis
Despite a solid 7-5 start, Memphis started Conference USA season at the bottom of the National Division, thanks to a 72-58 loss to Cincinnati in the league opener for both. A solid 5-0 start has given way to a less than desirable conclusion to calendar year 2000. Finishing the year at 2-4, the Tigers started the 2001 year with the conference loss to Cincinnati and, like Marquette, will be looking to respond with a win.
Senior forward Tiffany Adkins has been the Tigers' most volatile player. A 15.1 points per game scorer a year ago, Adkins has upped her totals to 17.8 per game thanks to huge efforts like a 37 point outburst in the Tigers' most impressive win of the season, an 88-82 win over then 15th ranked Mississippi State.
The 5-0 start was characterized by such strong play, including a win over Arkansas in the season opener and a victory over steadily improving Texas A&M. The losses in December were to good teams including Rice and Alabama, however the blemish to no. 2 Tennessee is the only game that Memphis was sure to lose based on early season success.
With her 37 point output, Adkins also has four other games with 20 or more points and is effective on the glass with a 7.4 total. Two other players, forward Malissa Bush and guard Shannon Hamp, average more than 10 points per game.
Last season: Memphis took a 12-point decision at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, 80-68, ending a five-game win streak by Marquette. Tiffany Adkins hit 10-of-11 free throws and scored 20 points in the win. Marquette shot 46 percent for the game, holding the Tigers to a 36 percent day, but a 30-15 advantage in made free throws was the difference in the Tiger win.
Series history: Marquette leads, 12-6.
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 senior Heidi Bowman should join the 1,000-point club if she maintains her current pace. Just 15 players in Marquette history have scored at least 1,000 points while at MU.
Needing 286 points this season, Bowman has 199 points for a total of 913 career points. Only one season in her career, however, has Bowman scored enough points in a season that would enable her to reach that feat. In 1998-99, Bowman scored 331 points for the season (11.4 points per game). Last season, Bowman scored 258 points. However, Bowman is on pace to score 424 points this season, which would easily eclipse the 1,000-point mark for her. On her current 16.6 points per game pace, Bowman would score her 1,000th career point on Jan. 28 at Saint Louis.
Johnson Aims at Shooting, Assist Marks
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. After a hot shooting, 10-point game against Michigan, Johnson is currently fourth on the all-time three point field goals made list and has moved into fourth on the attempted list. Johnson has 106 career three point baskets and 320 career attempts. Next on the list of three pointers made is Courtney Romesiser with 152. Johnson would have to set a personal season best for three-pointers in a season as she needs 46 to tie Romesiser.
Johnson has moved into fourth in attempts with 320, passing Kiesha Oliver who launched 303 career trifecta attempts. With 156 attempts behind Kristin Maskala, it is unlikely that she will move up another spot this season.
Also within reach for Johnson is the top-10 list for assists. Beginning the 2000-2001 season, Johnson has 223 career assists. Oliver is 10th on the list with 261. Johnson needs 38 dishes to pass Oliver. Also within reach is ninth place. Debbie Stampley currently occupies ninth place with 268. At this point, Johnson is projected to have 63 assists on the year.
Tales of Two Halves
A season long trend with Marquette has been having one very good shooting half and one not so good shooting half. The Golden Eagles are shooting 37.9 percent, but have struggled to put 40 solid minutes of shooting together, even in the convincing win over Michigan. So far this season, Marquette has, with one lone exception, put together games in which it shot 40 percent or better in one half and less than 40 percent in another. In its better half, Marquette is shooting 47.3 percent (149-315), and in the other halves, the Golden Eagles are shooting 29.9 percent (102-341).
Freshmen Carry Big Weight
With five first-year players on the roster, a lot is expected of the new crew. Four of the five saw significant action in the season opener against Iowa and all five have played significant minutes, with two earning starting time. Crystal Weaver and Kelly Schwerman each earned starts in the Saint Mary's Thanksgiving Classic. Schwerman started five games in a row.
All five have contributed to the Marquette cause this season, with Becky Stieber, Schwerman and Weaver each averaging at least 14 minutes per game this season. In all, the freshman five have contributed 25 percent of the Marquette scoring, 28 percent of the rebounding and 20 percent of all playing time.
For the Defense
While the offense has been inconsistent through the early portion of the year, the one thing that has been consistent is the MU defense. The nation's 10th best defense and Conference USA's best defense a year ago, the Golden Eagle defense is still stingy, allowing its opponents to shoot just 39.8 percent on the year, the third best total in Conference USA. It's 63.3 points per game allowed is also the third best figure in C-USA.
Last Five Minutes of Play
Many basketball games are decided in the final five minutes of play. In compiling a 4-8 overall record, Marquette has outscored its opponents during the final five minutes and overtime, however it has struggled in shooting during that time. Marquette has scored 16 percent of its total points this season in the last five minutes. MU's shooting percentage drops nine percent in the last minutes of the game.
What has kept Marquette's offense up in the final five minutes is its offensive rebounding. The Golden Eagles are pulling down 4.4 offensive boards a game and have 27 percent of its offensive boards in the game's conclusion.
Home Win Streak Halted
Oregon State and Cincinnati have something in common. They are amongst the select few who have defeated Marquette on its home floor. Oregon State ended MU's 23-game home winning streak with a 64-50 decision on Dec. 2, 2000.
With a 13-0 home record in 1999-2000 and a 2-0 home record in 2000-2001 prior to the OSU loss, Marquette had amassed a 23-game winning streak at home. Marquette suffered its last home loss before the Oregon State decision 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 26 seasons. Marquette is 178-113 all-time at home and is 92-41 at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
In Terri Mitchell's five seasons, Marquette is 47-8 (.855) at home
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. Marquette faces the most difficult non conference schedule of any team in C-USA.
"We've had an outstanding schedule in previous years, and this year is no different," head coach Terri Mitchell stated.
First Impressions
With the loss to Iowa, Marquette is 13-13 all-time in season-opening c *contests. The Golden Eagles, had won their last three season openers, prior to the road loss to Iowa. Last season, Marquette knocked off Iowa 69-64 in the beginner in Milwaukee. In games at home to open the season, Marquette is 8-7. When opening on the road, Marquette is 5-5. On neutral courts in openers, Marquette is 0-1.
In its first road contest of the year, Marquette maintains a 6-20 record all-time. In its first home game of the season, MU has a 16-10 record.
Tournament Play
The Golden Eagles took third place in the lone tournament played thus far in 2000-2001. Marquette fell to Northern Iowa and defeated Southern Utah in the consolation game of the Saint Mary's Thanksgiving Classic. Scoring 20 against Northern Iowa and 15 against Southern Utah, Heidi Bowman was named to the all-tournament team, joining Jerkisha Dosty, Saint Mary's (Most Valuable Player), Jermisha Dosty, Saint Mary's, Nikki Spettel, Northern Iowa, and Sarah Mortenson, Southern Utah.
Marquette holds an all-time record of 53-65 in tournament action. The Golden Eagles have won five tournament titles in the history of the program, winning the fifth in last season's OSU Classic.
Marquette Signs Two in Early Signing Period
Katie Alsdurf and Lesley Juedes signed national letters of intent with Marquette. Alsdurf and Juedes will join the Marquette women's basketball team for the 2001-2002 season.
Alsdurf, a 6-foot guard from Forest Lake High School in Forest Lake, Minn., is a three-time all-state performer and is the backbone of her high school team. Playing for Jen Hesse at Forest Lake, Alsdurf has been named a Player-of-the-Year candidate in Minnesota, an Honorable Mention All-American in 1999 and 2000 by Street & Smith and an Honorable Mention All-American by USA Today. Alsdurf is also ranked 58th by the All Star Girls Report. An exceptional student, Alsdurf is the top student in her class of 558 and plays AAU for Brian Frye with the Burnsville Blaze. She chose Marquette over Notre Dame, Penn State and Georgia.
Juedes, a 6-foot-1 forward from Ripon High School in Ripon, Wis., is her school's fourth leading scorer all-time and should be Ripon's all-time scorer after her senior season. Playing for Sheri Quamme, Juedes scored 19.8 points per game (a Ripon single-season record), 10.6 rebounds per game, and 1.8 assists per game as a junior. A two year starter, Juedes has been Ripon's MVP for the last two years, was first-team All-Conference in that same time period, and was first-team All-Area and Conference Player of the Year as a junior. Juedes was also a first-team All-State selection in 2000 by Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook.
MU Picked Second 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. DePaul 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.
On the Air
Two stations will alternate airing Marquette women's basketball contests this season. The Golden Eagles can be heard on WJYI 1310 AM and on WISN 1130 AM in the Milwaukee area. Five broadcasts are scheduled for WISN, while nine contests will be broadcast by WJYI. The postseason tournament and other postseason games will be aired as well, with broadcast times and stations to be determined at a later date.
Play-by-play reporter Kent Sommerfeld and analyst Kareeda Chones describe the action on both stations. A complete list of games carried is included with this note.
Also, broadcast games can be heard over the internet. Games on WJYI games will can be accessed on www.joy1340.com and WISN games will be carried on www.radio1130online.com. All broadcast games can be accessed on the Marquette website at www.gomarquette.com.
"The Terri Mitchell Show" will be aired at 5 p.m. on WISN and will begin on Nov. 12. Kent Sommerfeld and Terri Mitchell analyze and discuss Marquette Women's Basketball on the half-hour show.
"The Eagle's Edge," a television show, will be carried on MSC with host Kareeda Chones. The half-hour show will begin Dec. 20 and air on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m.
On the Web
All Marquette women's basketball information will be available on the official website of Marquette athletics, www.gomarquette.com.
Notes, stories, features, recaps and radio broadcasts can be accessed by pointing your browser at www.gomarquette.com.