Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Cincinnati
Cincinnati Defeats Women's Basketball, 69-62
2/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Marquette hit 50.0 percent, but couldn't hit key shots down the stretch as Cincinnati defeated the Golden Eagles (14-11, 6-7 C-USA), 69-62.
Marquette and Cincinnati were tied at 61 with 2:47 to play, but MU hit just one field goal in the remainder of the half as the Bearcats (20-5, 10-2 C-USA) were able to pull away in the final moments.
Both teams were hot in the second half, a stark contrast to the first. Cincinnati hit 58.3 percent in the second half after hitting just 26.7 in the first. MU hit 55.6 percent in the half. MU sophomore Katie Alsdurf tied her career high set two nights ago against Louisville scoring 20. Junior guard Kelly Schwerman added 13. Debbie Merrill and K.B. Sharp led Cincinnati with 18 each.
"We held our composure and played extremely hard," head coach Terri Mitchell said. "I know with every step, we're getting more and more ready for the conference tournament. We've been shooting the ball extremely well in the last two games, but when it came down to the end, we missed a few important shots."
The second half was a back and forth battle with the lead changing hands seven times. Seemingly every time Cincinnati would take the lead, Marquette would respond with a big basket by Schwerman or Alsdurf to regain the lead. Similarly, when MU would gain the advantage, Cincinnati's Merrill would score inside or K.B. Sharp would hit a long shot.
Merrill extended a Cincinnati lead to four, 63-59, with 1:48 to play after Carolyn Alexander hit an running layup to regain the lead. Schwerman had hit a three on MU's prior possession to tie.
Two runs, one by each team, and tough defense defined the first half. Cincinnati led 25-23 at the end of the first period. Marquette picked up the pace near the end of the half to up its shooting to 42.9 percent, but MU started the period cold, hitting just three of its first 17 shots. Cincinnati was just 8-of-39 from the floor for 26.7 percent.
The half was low scoring early, with MU not hitting its first field goal until the 13:35 mark. Cincinnati went on a 12-1 run over 5:30 to up its lead to 20-10. Marquette rallied near the end of the period, closing on a 10-2 run to cut the halftime deficit to two. Marquette was led in scoring at the break by Alsdurf who had nine. Sharp led all scorers with 11 at the break.
"Our game plan was solid, and we did what we needed to do," Mitchell said. "We continue to play hard and we have a lot of hope for the conference tournament."
Marquette finishes its season on Sunday, March 2 at DePaul at 2 p.m. That game is televised on the Conference USA Network and will air locally on WMLW Ch.-41.
