Juedes leads Marquette into Weekend Contests

Golden Eagles host Charlotte, East Carolina

Click here for Charlotte game notes in PDF format.

Coming off a victory over no. 18 DePaul in the Conference USA opener, Marquette is a confident team heading into its weekend games against a pair of teams that are 2-0 in Conference USA action. The Golden Eagles meet Charlotte on Friday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Al McGuire Center and face East Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 16 at noon at The Al.

Coming off a career best 21 point outing against DePaul, senior guard Lesley Juedes leads the Golden Eagles into the weekend action, averaging 11.7 points per game over the last seven contests.

"We're so proud of the the way Lesley has taken her previous experience and used it to have a successful season," head coach Terri Mitchell said.

Juedes has come on as of late, but she had been finding more of a role in the offensive and defensive schemes last season. She has grown into her role as a senior leader and has earned three starts this season as a result.

"Lesley is very adept at knowing her strengths and weaknesses," Mitchell said. "She attacks with her strengths and knows enough about her weaknesses to not let them keep her off the court. She knows this is her senior year and she wants to take this team to the post season. She wants to make this team part of something special."

But it will take more than just the play of Juedes to come away with two wins this weekend.

Marquette opens the weekend against Charlotte, a team that has taken four straight from the Golden Eagles. The 49ers come in with a 14-2 record and a load of confidence.

The 49ers are led by junior guard Sakellie Daniels, who averages 15.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Charlotte is characterized as a slashing, to-the-hoop style of offense that will try to press on defense.

Mitchell said that her team will have to not beat itself like it has in the past in order to beat Charlotte.

"We have to take care of the basketball," she said. "We have to demonstrate from beginning to end that we have an attacking mentality."

She also stated that rebounding will be a key to defeating Charlotte. The 49ers grab 44.1 rebounds per game.

"Defensively we have to rebound," Mitchell said. "The weakside block is important. Protecting the paint is important."

For the first time this season, Marquette will play on Friday and Sunday, something that is common in Conference USA play. After tangling with Charlotte, Marquette hosts East Carolina.

The Pirates are led by Jennifer Jackson, a 16.3 points per game scorer. she also grabs 6.1 rebounds per game.

"(Jackson) is the kind of player that can take over a game," Mitchell said. "We have to be capable of shutting her down. But this is the first test of playing two games in a weekend. We have to be physically and mentally ready for it."

Defense Continues to Be the Theme

Marquette held DePaul, the nation?s second leading scoring team, to 57 points, 28.3 points below its season average. So far this season, Marquette has held seven teams at least 10 points below its scoring average and has held three teams 20 or more points below their scoring average. The trip held 20 points below is an impressive one, which consists of DePaul (-28.3), Notre Dame (-21.5) and Penn State (-20.0).

"The team has taken a lot of pride in their defensive efforts and are continuing to grow as a defensive team," Mitchell said. "It's about pacing. It's taking teams a long time to break down our defense and our opponents are getting fewer shots. It's evolving in that our players can exchange positions in the zone and make things happen. We have man principles in the zone and that's important as well."

Second Half Wins Games for Marquette

In three consecutive games, Marquette has been down at the half, but has come back for a win. Marquette trailed San Diego (35-32), Penn State (32-31) and DePaul (35-30), but won each of those contests. Marquette outscored its opponents 118-80 in the second half of those games. For the season, Marquette owns an 87 point advantage in the second half.

"I give a lot of credit to the rest of the staff because they have our team very well prepared for what our opponent is going to do," Mitchell said. "At halftime, we're fine tuning what we've already prepared them for with the scout. But it has to be said that we are never out of a game. We can get down, eight, nine, to points and still be in a game thanks to our defense."

Golden Eagles Continue Four-Game Homestand

Marquette will put its 10-4 overall record and 1-0 Conference USA record to the test when it hosts Charlotte on Friday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Al McGuire Center. It is the first of two games this weekend at home for Marquette, as the Golden Eagles play host to East Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 16 at noon.

Marquette is trying to snap a four-game losing streak to the 49ers. Marquette is currently riding a three-game win streak and has been stifling opponents with its defense. Marquette held DePaul, the nation?s second leading scorers, to 57 points in its Conference USA opening victory.

Instrumental in that win was the play of Lesley Juedes, who scored 21 points for Marquette. She is averaging 11.7 points per game over the last seven contests.

With a Win against Charlotte ...

Marquette would snap its four game losing streak to Charlotte ... Marquette would start 2-0 in Conference USA play for the second straight year ... Marquette would improve to 16-1 all time at the Al McGuire Center.

Scouting Charlotte

Charlotte jumped out to a 10-0 start and made an impact early on. Currently at 14-2, the 49ers have started undefeated in Conference USA play, sitting 2-0.

Marquette, who owns an 11-6 series lead, has lost the last four in the series. Charlotte won by three last season in Charlotte. Sakellie Daniels scored 15 points in the Charlotte win.

Daniels currently leads the team with a 15.8 points per game scoring average. She also leads the team with 7.1 rebounds per game and leads the way with 5.9 assists per game.

Second on the Charlotte scoring list is Pam Brown, a junior forward who scores 13.6 points per game. Charlotte is averaging 78.1 points per game as a team, bolstered by a 98 point effort against Division II P.R.-Mayaguez, and 91 points against Western Kentucky.

Charlotte?s two losses this season have come to teams from Florida. Charlotte dropped an 83-72 decision to Florida State in the final game of the San Juan Shootout and lost to Florida 86-72 in Gainesville.

Charlotte head coach Katie Meyer is in her third season and owns a 68-38 record at Charlotte. Her career mark is the same.

On the Air: The Marquette/Charlotte game can be heard on Marquette student radio at www.marquette.edu/stumedia/wmur.

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