Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Arkansas St
Golden Eagles Hold off Arkansas State, 63-60
12/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2001
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Golden Eagles Hold off Arkansas State, 63-60 MU hits 10 three pointers in the victory
JONESBORO, Ark. - Marquette hit a season high 10 three pointers, and the Golden Eagles needed every one of those down the stretch to hold off an ambitious Arkansas State team, 63-60. The Golden Eagles (5-5) were led by senior guard Kristi Johnson (Holmen, Wis.) with 17 points and sophomore forward Kelly Schwerman (Waukesha, Wis.) with 11 points.
Marquette needed to hold on, leading by as many as 16 early in the second half. The Golden Eagles led 43-27 before Arkansas State (5-6) went on a run that closed Marquette's lead to just one point with 7:01 remaining. Rae-Anne Smith keyed the Arkansas State attack in the second half with 16 of her team high 23 points in that period.
"We knew we were going to be in a battle," head coach Terri Mitchell. "On the road, no lead is comfortable."
With Schwerman and Smith seemingly battling with matching baskets down the stretch, Marquette forced a pair of stops and Johnson hit a big three point basket with 3:14 to play to extend the MU lead back to five points. Arkansas State battled back to cut it to two on a Smith jumper with five seconds left, but too little time remained in the Indians' comeback effort.
Marquette hit 40 percent of their shots on the night and were deadly from the outside. MU hit 10-of-15 from behind the three-point arc.
"Arkansas State was going to take away the the inside and make us beat them from the outside," Mitchell added. "They played the percentages and we were fortunate to hit some shots."
As in their last outing against Dayton, the Golden Eagles were hot in the first half, aiding in its significant lead in the second half. Marquette hit 46.2 percent its shots as it jumped out to a 10 point lead by the break, 35-25. MU was balanced in its scoring. Four players scored six points by the break, including Klug, Johnson, Schwerman and Zawodny.
The MU defense was equally successful in the first stanza, holding ASU to just eight field goals. Smith and Chiquita Tucker led the Indians with seven each.
Arkansas State could answer MU in a four minute stretch as the Golden Eagles extended a two point lead to an 11 point lead. Marquette led by as many as 13 in the first half.
The Golden Eagles take on defending national champion Notre Dame on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. (EST).
