Marquette University Athletics
Women's Basketball Set For Exhibition Season
11/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 2, 2001
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Set for its 26th season of women's basketball, Marquette opens up competition with two exhibition contests. The first such game is set for Monday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. against RTU Klondaika, a travelling squad from Latvia. Marquette also takes on the WIsconsin Vikings AAU team on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. Both games take place at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
The Golden Eagles two exhibition contests are to prepare them for what promises to be a busy season and exciting season. Marquette hosts 12 regular season contests at the U.S. Cellular Arena, Al McGuire Court at the Bradley Center and at Wisconsin Lutheran Field House. The season is culminated as MU hosts the 2002 NCAA Mideast Regional on March 23 and 25 at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
About RTU Klondaika
RTU Klondaika is a 14-member touring party taking part in a 10-stop U.S. tour of midwest colleges. From Latvia, the members of the team range in age from 16-37 and are a club team touring for the purpose of providing exhibition contests for NCAA teams.
Their tour started on Nov. 1 at Ball State. RTU led at halftime, 42-38, before the Cardinals went on a 57-35 run in the second half to win 95-77. For the Latvians, Anete Jekabsone, a 5-10, 18-year old forward, led the way with 31 points. Anete Brice, a 37-year old, 5-9 guard, scored 11 with 13 rebounds in the loss.
RTU's tour continues at Eastern Illinois (Nov. 2) and Purdue (Nov. 4) before Marquette.
About Wisconsin AAU Vikings
Head coach Mark Noll brings 12 former college players to Marquette on Nov. 12 for an exhibition game. The team is highlighted by the return of former Marquette forward Lisa Oldenburg.
Oldenburg is the fourth all-time leading scorer for Marquette with 1,655 points. In her four seasons from 1997-2000, she also grabbed 832 rebounds, sixth on Marquette's all time list.
The roster also has a second player from Marquette, Kiesha Oliver. Marquette's 15th all-time leading scorer, Oliver finished her career with 1,061 points.
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.
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.
