Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
East Carolina
Golden Eagles Rally to Defeat East Carolina, 78-70
2/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2002
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Marquette erased a 13 point East Carolina lead to pick up a 78-70 overtime victory. The Golden Eagles (14-9, 7-3 C-USA) end a two game losing streak, while East Carolina (5-18, 2-8 C-USA) snap a two game win streak.
Rachel Klug scored four of her team high 22 points in the second half. Marquette's defense held in the extra frame, allowing just one field goal to the Pirates in the OT period. Marquette extended its lead to eight, its final lead relying on free throws and its tough defense.
The only field goal for East Carolina came from Courtney Willis, as she had 22 points. For Marquette, Sarah Zawodny had 13 points and Katie Alsdurf added 12.
"I love the heart and passion of this team," head coach Terri MItchell said. "We knew we would have to play hard to get better and today we did just that."
The Golden Eagles were down as many as 13 with 9:52 left in the contest, but held East Carolina without a field goal for nearly nine minutes as they erased the Pirates' lead. Marquette took the lead with 21 seconds left. Rachel Klug scored a layup for the lead. She was countered by a jumper by Samantha Pankey to lead by one. Sarah Zawodny's layup with nine seconds gave MU the lead at 66-65, but Pankey hit a free throw to force overtime at 66.
The first half was a tight contest in which Marquette went into the break up, 35-33.
While the game was tight during the first 20 minutes, there was only one lead change. MU took the lead at the 11:53 mark, taking a 14-13 advantage after a pair of three pointers, one by Alsdurf and one by Kelly Schwerman.
Marquette took advantage of some opportunities on the inside, particularly by Klug. She led the Golden Eagles in the first half, scoring 12 points. Schwerman and Alsdurf each had two of the Golden Eagles' five first half three pointers, scoring eight each.
The Pirates did some damage on the inside as well in the first half. Willis scored all 10 of her points under the basket, leading all East Carolina scorers.
ECU had the opportunity to take the lead with just over one minute left in the first half. Kim Enoch, who had seven points in the period, scored a basket that would have put the Pirates up 32-31, but she was called for a player control foul. Alsdurf responded with a three to extend the MU lead to 35-31, but a buzzer-beating layup by Willis cut MU's first half advantage to two points.
The Golden Eagles return home for their final homestand of the season. MU takes on Cincinnati at the U.S. Cellular Arena on Friday, Feb. 15. That contest, airing locally on WMLW-Ch. 41, starts at 7 p.m.
