Marquette University Athletics
Women's Basketball Comes Out Strong, Defeats Evansville, 71-55
11/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Golden Eagles 2-0 for first time since 1992-93
MILWAUKEE ? Paced by Freshman Christina Quaye?s 11 points and six rebounds in the first half, Marquette out-rebounded Evansville 20-to-15 and used 19 second-chance points in the half to take a 40-to-22 halftime lead. From there, the Golden Eagles (2-0) relied on Kelly Schwerman?s 12 second-half points to outlast the Purple Aces (1-1), winning 71-55.
The Marquette freshmen played a role in getting the Golden Eagles off on the right foot, two buckets for Quaye, plus one for classmate Danielle Kamm led Marquette to an early 8-2 lead. The Marquette defense also helped the Golden Eagles maintain control of the game, as they forced Evansville into 29 turnovers, which resulted in 30 Marquette points.
?It?s just nice to try and do as much as I can for the team,? Quaye said. ?I knew I had to get out there and play and contribute to the team and help everyone out.?
While Marquette?s early-season three-point shooting woes prevented them from running away with the contest, the turnover advantage helped the Golden Eagles to keep Evansville at bay. For the night, Marquette shot 37.1 percent from the floor, including 27.8 percent from behind-the-arc. Marquette?s free throw shooting percentage was the only bright spot, as they canned 14-of-16 for an 87.5 percent.
?Obviously early in the season, but I?m pleased with the improvement from Saturday to today,? head coach Terri Mitchell said. ?We?re just going to fight and that?s the spirit of the team We want to see if we can wear them down. We have a lot of girls fighting for playing time, and so we?re going to use them.?
Marquette managed to maintain the defensive pressure by using a deep rotation off the bench. Nine Golden Eagles clocked at least 10 minutes.
The rebounds eventually balanced out, as the teams tied with 35 total boards each. Marquette was as successful on their offensive end of the court, with 22 rebounds, versus Evansville?s 22. The Purple Aces grabbed 13 offensive boards, to Match Marquette?s 13 defensive boards on the game.
Marquette returns to action, Saturday, November 29, as they take on Oakland at 1 p.m. (EST) in the opening round of the Dead River Company Classic, in Orono, Maine.
