Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Louisville
Golden Eagles Fall To Louisville, 79-74
2/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2001
LOUISVILLe, Ky. -- Marquette gave first-place Louisville everything it could handle, but a hot shooting overtime gave the Cardinals (16-7, 11-1 C-USA) a 79-74 win over the Golden Eagles (6-13, 5-6 C-USA). Louisville jumps five-and-one-half games head of Marquette and DePaul, who also lost this evening to Cincinnati, in the American Division.
After being tied at 60 heading to the extra frame, Louisville scored 19 points in overtime, just 11 more than in the second half, as it earned the victory. Louisville guard Kara Kessans scored 11 of her game-high 24 points in the extra session.
Kessans came down the court and hit back-to-back three pointers that put the Cardinals up six in the overtime and gave them the lead for good. Marquette scored 14 in the OT session, but couldn't put the clamps on Kessans and the rest of the Louisville attack.
The second half was as close as the game indicated. A one-point Marquette advantage at the half, Louisville inched closer to the Golden Eagles to make it an even contest after 40 minutes. In regulation, the game was tied three times and the lead changed hands 12 times.
"Our effort was great tonight," head coach Terri Mitchell said. "We just didn't finish well. If we have this kind of effort in the conference tournament, I know we will do well."
The Golden Eagles received efforts from many different players as it had four score in double digits for the first time this season. Guard Kristi Johnson and center Sarah Zawodny each had 19. Forwards Heidi Bowman and Kristin Seffern each had 10. Seffern had her first career double-double as she matched Zawondy for a game-high 11 rebounds.
"Obviously a win is the most important thing, whether I score two or 12 is not important," Johnson said.
Marquette had its best shooting night as it hit a season-high 45.6 percent.
Four Cardinals also scored in double figures, joining Kessans. Guard Marju Sober scored 18, guard Sara Nord scored 11 and center Shamika Ingram added 11. Kessans had a double-double wiht 10 boards and Nord had a double-double with 11 assists.
A hot shooting first half by both teams led to a tight half-time result of 33-32 in favor of Marquette.
The Golden Eagles started the half jumping out to a quick 9-0 start in the first 3:06 of the game. A pair of buckets each by Johnson -- one being a three-pointer -- and Seffern led to the advantage.
Marquete extended its early lead to 19-9 at the 13:03 mark when Kelly Schwerman tied her career high of eight points on three-consecutive trips down the floor.
Louisville worked their way back in to the contest with four first-half steals leading to seven points off turnovers. With 41 seconds left in the first half Sober hit a three pointer to give the Cards their first advantage of the game at 32-30, but Johnson answered with a three of her own to give Marquette the 33-32 halftime lead.
The story of the first half was both teams hot shooting. Marquette, who started the game at 73 percent shooting, finished the half at 46 percent. Lousville, who started at a 48 percent pace, finished the period at 38 percent. Marquette proved dominant o the glass, recording 22 rebounds of which 11 were offensive leading to six second chance points.
Marquette contines its four-game road swing on Sunday, Feb. 11 at Cincinnati. Tip off is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST.
