Marquette University Athletics
Women's Basketball to Host Dayton at Al McGuire Court
12/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 13, 2001
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With eight days to relish a victory over La Salle, 63-54, Marquette returns to action against Dayton at Al McGuire Court at the Bradley Center. The Golden Eagles play the first of three games this season in the NBA facility, which also serves as the home to the Marquette men's basketball team.
MU hopes that last year's trend at the Bradley Center continues this season. Marquette pulled off one of its most impressive wins in the 2000-01 season against Michigan, 67-58. The Golden Eagles also downed Charlotte in one of its best defensive outings of last year, 46-35, in the regular season finale to finish the season 2-0 at the Bradley Center.
About Dayton
Dayton and Marquette matchup for the 24th time in series history. MU is looking for revenge of Dayton's 62-57 win last season, snapping MU's 10-game win streak over the Flyers.
Statistically, Dayton's numbers resemble Marquette to an extent. Leading scorer Stefanie Miller is the only double figure scorer on the team at 13.8 per game (similarly, Rachel Klug is the only double figure scorer for MU at 13.3 ppg). UD averages 57.3 per game (MU is slightly higher at 61.1) and the Flyers hit 36.8 percent of their shots (MU hits 34.7).
Dayton limps in to the game with MU at 1-5. Dayton's lone win came against Maryland, 56-53, on Nov. 28. Part of Dayton's struggles exist in the second half, where the Flyers are allowing being outscored 36 per half and are scoring just 29 in the second 20 minutes. Miller is the dominant player for UD, leading the team in virtually all categories but rebounding. Heather Haselman owns that stat at 9.2 boards per game.
Continuing in the Atlantic 10
After three straight against the Big Ten, Marquette gets to take on a different conference in back to back games. MU's has its second game in a row against an Atlantic 10 opponent. MU downed La Salle, 63-54, in its last contest. In Terri Mitchell's six seasons at Marquette, the Golden Eagles own a 5-1 record against A-10 teams.
After an 0-4 mark against the Big Ten, MU will look forward to getting away from teams from that league. The Golden Eagles have posted wins over teams from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the Horizon League.
Down to the Wire
Marquette has a penchant for making games tight. On three occasions this season has an MU game gone down to the final shot. Against Wis.-Milwaukee, the game went down to several shots for UWM at the end of regulation and overtime. MU prevailed in that one, 67-65. Marquette couldn't make last-second shots in games against both Michigan State and Wisconsin. Marquette almost had another game go to the wire with La Salle. The Explorers cut the MU lead to four with under four minutes remaining.
Klug Comes to Forefront
Junior forward Rachel Klug (Cedar Grove, Wis.) has stepped up her play early in the 2001-02 season. A career 2.4 points per game scorer heading into the year, Klug has upped her average from a year ago from 3.1 to 13.3, tops on the team. Klug has scored in double figures six times this season, tossing in a career high 15 or more four times. Klug is hitting 53.2 percent of her shots, leading the team amongst those who have a significant number of attempts.
All's Well for Alsdurf
Freshman guard Katie Alsdurf (Forest Lake, Minn.) is no stranger to the Marquette offense. She has attempted more shots than anyone else on the team (85) and is tied for second on the squad in scoring at 8.1 points per game.
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 eight starts this season, her career totals are 95 in both categories.
Weaver-ing Past the Defense
Sophomore forward Crystal Weaver (Kentwood, Mich.) set a career high with 19 points against Wis.-Milwaukee, beating her previous high of 12 last season against Houston. Weaver hit 8-of-21 shots against the Panthers.
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 101-50 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.
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 as many as 25 (against Michigan). MU's smallest bench outing was10 points against Wisconsin, however MU reserves played just 49 of 200 minutes. The Golden Eagle bench has accounted for 181 of Marquette's 489 points (37.0 percent).
Rebounding is Key
Marquette set a season high with 50 rebounds against La Salle, with 21 offensive boards. In part, rebounding was a big key to the MU win. Rachel Klug set an MU individual season high with 13 boards. Against Alaska Anchorage, Marquette held a 12 rebound advantage over the Seawolves and proved victorious, 88-50. Marquette has been outrebounded just once this season.
Statistics Do Lie
Marquette had one of its best statistical games against Michigan State, despite losing, 65-63. The Golden Eagles had their best shooting day against a Division I team this year (42.6 percent) and held MSU to a 30.6 percent shooting effort. Marquette also shot 31.6 percent from three point range, but all of that was not enough to balance MSU's 42 trips to the free throw line.
Tough Schedule for Golden Eagles
Marquette currently owns the nation's fifth toughest schedule, according to CollegeRPI.com. MU trails Drake, Louisiana Tech, Wis.-Green Bay and Stanford in that category.
Currently, MU's opponents own a 39-14 record with an average RPI of 86. Upcoming non-conference opponents are 19-19 and have an RPI of 87. Conference USA is ranked ninth among all conferences. Marquette is ranked 70th. Tulane leads the conference at 26th.
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.
Miscellaneous Notes ...
Marquette's 88 points against Alaska was the highest total since the Golden Eagles scored 95 at Southern Miss on Feb. 3, 2000 ... Despite tying or outrebounding its opponents on all but one occasion, 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 ... Marquette had a better shooting percentage than Michigan State, despite losing by two ... the Golden Eagles received proper payback as La Salle shot six percentage points better in MU's win over the Explorers ... Marquette has used five different starting lineups in eight games this season ... MU had 21 offensive rebounds against La Salle, two short of its season high of 23 vs. Iowa ... Marquette grabbed a season-high 50 rebounds against the Explorers ... the last time MU had 50 boards was on Feb. 23, 2001, in a 67-31 win over Saint Louis.
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 on with MU basketball. The show returns to the air on Saturday, Dec. 15. at 3 p.m. on WISN 1130 AM. On Saturday, Dec. 29, the show airs at 2:30 p.m.
Upcoming Television
Four of Marquette's regular season contests are to be broadcast on television this season. Marquette's home games against Cincinnati and Memphis are to be carried by the C-USA Television Network. The Golden Eagles' game against East Carolina will be aired in Greenville, N.C., on WITN-TV. Marquette's Jan. 27 game with Tulane was recently added to the ESPN Regional schedule, forcing a time change to 3 p.m.
Contacting Coach Mitchell
Terri Mitchell will be available by phone on Mondays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (CST) to discuss matchups for the current week and the previous weeks play. Contact women's basketball administrative assistant Monica Schwarz at (414) 288-5784 to make arrangements to speak with Mitchell during that time. For in person or radio interviews, contact assistant SID Blain Fowler at (414) 288-6980 for arrangements.
