Marquette University Athletics
Mitchell Starts Season Seeking 100th Career Win
11/16/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2001
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No one said it would be easy. It certainly doesn't start that way as Marquette takes on seventh-ranked Iowa State in the season opener, Saturday Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
The Golden Eagles come into the season fresh off a pair of exhibition wins in the preseason. Sophomore guard Katie O'Grady (Chicago, Ill.) sparked the Golden Eagles in the last exhibition win with a 20-point outing.
Head coach Terri Mitchell goes into the season seeking her 100 career victory. The first Marquette win of the season will put her in that elusive class.
About Iowa State
Iowa State is the first of many opponents in the 2001-02 season that went to the postseason a year ago. Iowa State, ranked seventh heading into the regular season, advanced to the NCAA Tournament's third round, before losing to Vanderbilt in the regional semifinals. Iowa State finished the year at 27-6.
The Cyclones' top scorer and rebounder returns from a year ago. Angie Welle, a two time All-American and Big 12 First Team All-Conference Selection, led ISU with 18.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game a season ago.
Tracy Graham Also provided a big role for Iowa state last season, starting all 33 times. She averaged 12.3 points and 7.5 boards per game. Lindsay Wilson runs the show at point guard. She scored 14.6 points last year while dishing 5.2 assists per game.
Possible Starters Marquette Ht Yr PPG RPG 13 Kristi Johnson G 5-6 Sr. - - 12 Katie O'Grady G 5-8 So. - - 52 Sarah Zawodny C 6-4 Sr. - - 40 Crystal Weaver F 5-11 So. - - 21 Rachel Klug F 6-1 Jr. - -Iowa State Ht Yr PPG RPG 13 Lindsey Wilson G 5-9 Jr. - - 22 Tracy Gahan G 6-1 Sr. - - 32 Angie Welle C 6-4 Sr. - - 43 Mary Cofield F 6-0 Jr. - - 50 Melanie Bremer F 6-1 Jr. - -
Mitchell Seeks Milestones in 2001-02
Head coach Terri Mitchell claimed her 99th career victory in a 76-65 win over Charlotte in the second to last game of the season last year. Mitchell needs just one win this season to reach the 100 mark. Only one coach in MU women's basketball history has won as many games. Tat Shiely won 111 games in 11 seasons with Marquette.
Mitchell will become the seventh MU coach in the five team sports to reach 100 wins. Mitchell looks to join men's basketball coaches Bill Chandler (193-198), Al McGuire (295-80), Hank Raymonds (126-50) and Mike Deane (100-55), men's soccer coach Steve Adlard (106-80-17, current), as well as Shiley who won 380 times in volleyball and 111 times in women's basketball.
Mitchell became the second winningest coach in Marquette history against Saint Louis last season with her 95th win of her career, passing Jim Jabir who won 94 games in six seasons. With 13 wins in 2001-02, Mitchell will move into first place all-time at Marquette.
Mitchell is also the winningest coach in terms of percentage. In her five seasons, Marquette has won 67.3 percent of its games.
Defense is Best
Marquette was 12-3 in games in which it held its opponents to 60 or fewer points and 1-13 in games in which it allowed 61 or more points during the 2000-01 season. In its wins, Marquette held its opponents to as low as 31 points (against Saint Louis) and allowed as many as 65 (to Charlotte). Twice last season, Marquette held its opponents to 35 or fewer. In its 12 wins, Marquette allowed its opponents to score just 54.7 points per game.
Scheduling the Nation's Elite
The Golden Eagles look to take on some of the country's best teams this season. Marquette jumps into their tough schedule feet first with games against Iowa State and Iowa. Iowa State finished ranked eighth in the AP poll and Iowa finished 16th. Both look to be highly ranked this season.
In all, 17 of MU's 27 opponents advanced to postseason play last year - 11 played in the NCAA Tournament and six went to the WNIT. On the schedule for 2001-02, Marquette meets defending champion Notre Dame. The Golden Eagles also meet with Iowa State, who advanced to the Elite Eight. Saint Mary's, Iowa, TCU, Michigan and Colorado State are MU's opponents this season who advanced to the second round last season.
Last year's schedule included 14 home contests, games with five NCAA tournament teams - Notre Dame, Brigham Young, Michigan, UAB, and Tulane - from the previous year, and the Conference USA Postseason tournament. Marquette faced the most difficult non conference schedule of any team in C-USA.
Marquette had the 21st-ranked non-conference schedule according to the The Collegiate Basketball News Women's RPI College Basketball Ratings. Marquette non-conference opponents finished 215-119 (.664) and had an average RPI of 78.7.
In all, 14 of Marquette's 22 opponents advanced to the postseason, with seven each in the NCAA and WNIT. Notre Dame won the national title, four others won their first round NCAA game. Seven opponents went to the WNIT, with three going to the second round and one (UAB) advancing to the quarterfinals.
Preseason C-USA Poll
Tulane has been chosen by the 14 C-USA head coaches to win the 2001-02 regular season title. UAB's Deanna Jackson, who is poised to become Conference USA's career scoring and rebounding leader this season, has been selected by the coaches to repeat as Player of the Year.
Marquette is picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll by the conference coaches. Last season, Marquette was 8-8 in conference play and finished in a seventh place tie with DePaul.
Hearing the Golden Eagles
All Marquette women's basketball home games and select road games can be heard on the radio or at the Marquette athletics web site. WJYI 1340 AM will broadcast eight contests while WISN 1130 AM will carry seven contests. One game, the second round of the Great Alaska Shootout, is up in the air. Should MU play in the consolation, that game can be heard on the internet at www.gomarquette.com. If MU is in the championship game, that can be heard on WJYI. All the action can be heard beginning five minutes before tip. Play-by-play broadcaster Kent Sommerfeld and analyst Kareeda Chones, a former MU basketball player, bring you all the action.
The Terri Mitchell Show
Saturdays on WISN 1130 AM, The Terri Mitchell Show will air. The first broadcast of the show is set for Saturday, Nov. 17 at 3:30 p.m. The show will air after the Marquette men's game with Loyola (Ill.) at 1 p.m. Kent Sommerfeld and Terri Mitchell will preview the season as well as the upcoming contest with Iowa State. Then, tune to WJYI to listen to the Iowa State/Marquette game in its entirety.
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 to www.gomarquette.com.
