Marquette University Athletics
Marquette/Alaska Meet in Shootout Consolation Game
11/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2001
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Marquette and Alaska Anchorage are set to square off in the consolation game of the Great Alaska Shootout on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 2:30 p.m. AST. Both teams arrived at the tournament consolation match by virtue of a loss. The Seawolves were victims of a three-point shooting barrage by Gonzaga in a 98-45 loss. Marquette was hampered by a cold-shooting second half, falling to Iowa, 69-54.
Terri Mitchell coaches her 150th game at Marquette as MU continues to look for its first win of the season. The Golden Eagles struggled in the second half against Iowa in the first round of the Shootout. Marquette led by as many as eight, but couldn't hold on to the lead. The Golden Eagles couldn't connect from the field for nearly 11 complete minutes in the second half, struggling as the Hawkeyes found their scoring touch. MU hit just 19.4 percent from the field in the second half against Iowa.
About Alaska Anchorage
Alaska Anchorage is 1-2 heading into the Thanksgiving Eve meeting with Marquette. UAA split games in a pair of season-opening games against NAIA foe Christian Heritage. The Seawolves were downed in their first contest of the year against a Division I school, losing to Gonzaga, 98-45.
UAA connected on just 24 percent from the field (12-for-50). Meanwhile the Zags, which hit on 46 percent of its shots on the night, jumped out to a 44-18 halftime advantage.
One bright spot for UAA was the 16-point, 10-rebound effort by senior center Bell Jordan. Freshman Jennifer Stoddard also hit for double figures with 10 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 Shiely who won 380 times in volleyball and 111 times in women's basketball. Additionally, Mitchell will coach her 150th game in her career in the second round of the Great Alaska Shootout.
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.
Nothing is as Dependable as KJ
Senior guard Kristi Johnson (Holmen, Wis.) is one element that Marquette can count on game in, game out. In her four seasons, Johnson has not only played, but started in every game of her career. Heading into the 2001-02 season, she had started and played in 87 contests. With two starts this season, her career totals are 89 in both categories.
Three for Me
Senior guard Kristi Johnson (Holmen, Wis.) is the only Marquette player to have hit a three pointer this season. Johnson was 2-5 against Iowa State and 3-5 against Iowa. She is hitting 50 percent of her threes at 5-10. The rest of the team is 0-15 on the year from behind the arc.
Dorothy, We're Not in Iowa Anymore?
Marquette gets its first chance against a school not from Iowa when it takes on Alaska Anchorage in the second round of the Great Alaska Shootout. Marquette has opened the season with Iowa each of the last two seasons and began this year with Iowa State. In all, Marquette has a 3-11 record against teams from Iowa - Drake (0-2), Iowa (1-2), Iowa State (0-3) and Northern Iowa (2-4).
From the Line
For the season, Marquette has been very adept at getting to the free throw line. The Golden Eagles have been to the charity stripe 52 times on the season (26 per game). Marquette has hit 35 of those attempts for a 67.3 percentage. In contrast, Marquette's opponents have been to the free throw line just 34 times (16 per game).
Double Time
Senior guard Kristi Johnson (Holmen, Wis.) is the only Marquette player to score in double figures this season in both games this season. Johnson scored a team-high 10 against Iowa State and a team-best 12 against Iowa. Senior center Sarah Zawodny (Beavercreek, Ohio) is the only other Marquette player to score double figures, netting 10 against Iowa off the bench.
On the Road, Again, and Again, and Again . . .
Marquette continues on the road for its second of five straight games away from the U.S. Cellular Arena or Al McGuire Court at the Bradley Center. The Golden Eagles visit Anchorage for a two-game tournament and then head Wis.-Milwaukee and Michigan before meeting Michigan State in a neutral site contest in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Golden Eagles next play at home on Dec. 5 against intrastate rival Wisconsin at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
Rebounding is Key
Marquette was outrebounded by Iowa State in the season opener and suffered defeat. Last season, Marquette outrebounded its opponents 20 of 29 times. In Terri Mitchell's five previous seasons, Marquette has led Conference USA in rebounding four times.
The Golden Eagles were very active on the glass in the first half against Iowa. Marquette grabbed 28 rebounds in the first 20 minutes, helping the team to an eight-point early second half lead. However, Iowa closed the final rebound margin to one, in turn, beating MU by 15.
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.
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. Marquette has yet to hold an opponent to fewer than 68 points this year.
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. Kent Sommerfeld and Terri Mitchell will preview upcoming games, feature players and talk everything that is going in with Marquette women's basketball. A complete list of times will be released at a later date.
On the Web
All of 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.
