Marquette University Athletics
Marquette Falls to St. Bonaventure, 69-65
12/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Recap | Box Score
Recap and box score in PDF format.
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. ? Sophomore guard Carolyn Kieger tied her a career-high with 23 points and Marquette proved accurate from three-point range, but it was not enough as the Golden Eagles lost to St. Bonaventure, 69-65.
Kieger was 9-of-11 on the night in her career performance. She hit all four of her three point attempts, leading Marquette (6-2) to a 9-of-23 night from behind the arc. St. Bonaventure?s Stef Collins nearly matched Kieger with a team-high 25 points, hitting five threes.
The difference in the contest, however, occurred at the free throw line. Marquette, a team that shoots 24 free throws a game, went to the line just nine times compared to St. Bonaventure?s 23 free attempts.
After taking its first lead of the game 38-36 with 16:07 to play, the game turned back-and-forth until Collins scored seven straight points for SBU with eight to play. St. Bonaventure (4-4) led by six at the end of Collins? run.
A Schwerman three cut the Bonnies? lead to 57-54 with five minutes to play. Collins responded with a three-pointer on SBU?s next possession to extend the Bonnies? lead back to six. Collins long-range shooting later extended the SBU?s lead to nine with 4:44 to play, but Marquette chipped back into the game, cutting the deficit to four on a three-point play by Kieger and a pair of free throws by Danielle Kamm.
The Golden Eagles? stayed close in the contest in part due to offensive rebounding. Marquette grabbed 18 offensive boards.
After trailing early in the first half, Marquette responded with a significant run in late in the period. After spotting the Bonnies a 16-5 lead early, MU chipped away before going on an 11-2 run to tie the score at 30 with one minute to play in the first half. The first nine points of the Marquette run came on Kieger three point goals.
The Golden Eagles stayed in the half with defensive intensity and with long-range shooting, forcing a 32-32 halftime tie. Marquette launched 14 three balls, hitting six. Kieger was perfect in the first half from long range, scoring 12 of her first-half 16 points from behind the arc. Marquette also forced St. Bonaventure in to nine first-half turnovers, including a five-second inbounds call and a three-seconds in the paint on back-to-back possessions as part of its late run.
?It?s difficult to play on the road,? Mitchell said. ?On a two game road swing like this, you have to get one. Now our backs are against the wall against Toledo.?
Marquette concludes its four-game trip with a visit to Toledo on Saturday, December 20 at 7 p.m. (EST).
