Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Memphis
Women's Basketball Earns First Conference Win of Season
1/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Despite a 28-point, 11-rebound effort from Memphis guard Tiffany Adkins, the Tigers, now 8-6 and 1-2 in C-USA play, could not combat a triple threat of scoring from Marquette forward Heidi Bowman (17 points), forward Kristin Seffern (a career high 13 points) and center Sarah Zawodny (12 points). With the win, Marquette improves to 5-9 and 1-2 in C-USA play.
"We need that balanced scoring," head coach Terri Mitchell said. "We need o have three players in double figures if we are going to do anything in this conference."
The Golden Eagles maintained a large lead from the beginning of the game, handling the Memphis press with ease in the first half. After breaking the press, Marquette seemed able to take advantage of the collapsed defense for a basket near the goal. MU scored 20 of its 39 first half points in the paint.
"Offense, offense, offense is what we've been stressing, but it's what we have been lacking," Bowman said. "We had the intensity we needed in the first half, we got open looks, and we took the best shot."
Marquette's defense responded in kind, holding Memphis to a 29.6 shooting pace in the first half.
"We realize the defense has always been there," Seffern said. "We just had to prove we can score. We can't just rely on Heidi to get our points."
Seffern was a big part of that scoring windfall, hitting five-of-seven field goals for 10 first half points.
Marquette slowed Adkins in the first half, allowing just 10 points to the All-American candidate. Only one other player had more than one basket in the first half for the Tigers, with guard Princess Swilley having six at the half.
"We got back to fundamentals tonight," Mitchell said. "We made shots, hit free throws, got rebounds and played defense."
The Tigers turned the defense up a bit in the second half, holding Marquette to just 5-of-17 shooting in the second (30 percent), however, Marquette held a 19-9 advantage from the free throw line in the second half, after attempting no free throws in the first half. Memphis remained in foul difficulty for most of the second half, as the Golden Eagles were in the double bonus with over 11 minutes left in the game.
After leading by 22 early in the second half, Marquette allowed Memphis to climb back in to the game. The Tigers cut the MU lead to five with 20 seconds left, but the Marquette advantage proved too much.
"Our players did it all tonight," Mitchell said. "But nothing comes easy. When you have a 20 point lead, you can't rest. Memphis has the highest RPI in the conference, so they're going to come after you."
