Marquette University Athletics
Marquette, Wis.-Milwaukee Meet in Intra-city Battle
11/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2001
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After a long-distance road trip to Anchorage, Alaska, Marquette returns home, of sorts, in the midst of a five-game road swing. The Golden Eagles play a road game at Wis.-Milwaukee on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Klotsche Center on the UWM campus. Following the nearby road contest, Marquette heads to Michigan for games against Big Ten teams Michigan and Michigan State.
Marquette is coming off its first victory of the season. After a pair of season-opening losses, MU found the win column thanks to an offensive outburst by a number of players. Five Golden Eagles scored in double digits as Marquette took third place in the Great Alaska Shootout. Junior forward Rachel Klug (Cedar Grove, Wis.) was named to the all-tournament team. Iowa won the tournament with victories over Marquette (first round) and Gonzaga (championship).
About Wis.-Milwaukee
Marquette and Wis.-Milwaukee meet in the oldest, longest running series for MU. Marquette has owned the series the last decade, carrying a five game winning streak against the Panthers into Tuesday's game. MU has won 10 of the last 11 meetings. UWM won 16 of the 17 prior to MU's 10 of 11.
The Panthers were an NCAA Tournament team from a year ago. They won the Horizon League regular-season and postseason titles. This year, UWM is 3-1 at this point. The Panthers started the year with a pair of wins over Northern Illinois and Illinois State to start the year. UWM lost at Mississippi on Nov. 24 and proved victorious over Montana State on Nov. 25. Jessica Wilhite has proven to be UWM's go to force. She is averaging 32.8 minutes per game while scoring 19.8 per contest.
Mitchell Wins 100th, In Line for All-Time Wins Mark
With Marquette's 88-50 win over Alaska Anchorage, MU head coach Terri Mitchell won her 100th career game. In her sixth season, Mitchell is 100-50 and is the fastest MU women's basketball coach to reach 100 wins. Only one other MU women's basketball coach has won 100 games. Tat Sheily had 111 career victories. She won her 100th game in her 217th career game.
Mitchell became 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.
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 previous 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 three starts this season, her career totals are 90 in both categories.
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 74 times on the year (24.7 per game). Marquette has hit 51 of those attempts for a 68.9 percentage. In contrast, Marquette's opponents have been to the free throw line just 34 times (16 per game). The Golden Eagles were so solid defensively against Alaska Anchorage that they committed just eight fouls and did not allow the Seawolves to get to the free throw line.
Double Time
Marquette is 1-0 this season when five players score double figures or more. Against Alaska Anchorage, five players hit for at least 11 points. Starters Rachel Klug and Katie Alsdurf each scored 12. Lesley Juedes, Kelly Schwerman and Kylee Bogott each scored 11 off the bench.
From the Pine
Against Alaska Anchorage, Marquette got 48 of its 88 points from its non starters, the most of any game this season. In all this season MU's bench has been productive, scoring 20 against Iowa State and 18 against Iowa. Golden Eagle reserves have accounted for 86 of Marquette's 192 points (44.8 percent).
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. After a pair of road games at the Great Alaska Shootout, the Golden Eagles visit 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
The Golden Eagles are best when controlling the boards. Against Alaska Anchorage, Marquette held a 12 rebound advantage over the Seawolves and proved victorious, 88-50. Marquette held just a one rebound margin over Iowa in the 69-54 defeat. The Golden Eagles were 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.
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.
In its lone victory at the early point of the season, Marquette held Alaska Anchorage to 50 points and 33.3 percent shooting. In all, MU is allowing 62.3 points per game (60.5 ppg average in 2000-01) and a 39.8 shooting percentage (39.1 in 2000-01).
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.
Miscellaneous Notes ...
Heading into the Alaska Anchorage contest, Kristi Johnson was the only player to have hit a three on the season ... Rashida Gales, Lesley Juedes and Kelly Schwerman each hit a three against Alaska ... Marquette's 88 points against Alaska was the highest total since the Golden Eagles scored 95 at Southern Miss on Feb. 3, 2000 ... Despite outrebounding opponents 122-119, MU has not had a player with a double figure rebounding game this season ... MU set a season high in shooting percentage against Alaska (52.4 percent) ... Prior to UAA, Marquette was shooting 27.3 percent.
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.
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. 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.
