Golden Eagles Down Auburn 65-61 at USVI Paradise Jam

Nov. 24, 2006

ST. THOMAS, USVI - With the help of 20-plus points from senior Christina Quaye and sophomore Krystal Ellis, the Marquette women's basketball team won its third straight game downing Auburn, 65-61, Friday afternoon at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. The Golden Eagles stand undefeated at the Paradise Jam and improve to 4-1 on the season, while the Tigers fall to 3-2 overall.

"This was an incredibly fun game to coach, it was a game of runs," said head coach Terri Mitchell, who now stands five wins shy of her 200th victory. "Over the last two games in this tournament, we have grown up a lot. We have figured out our strengths and our players are improving with every game. We have one more important game down here against a talented Xavier team. We want to take what we have done here home with us and continue to get some more wins."

After going into the locker room at halftime, ahead by three points, 30-27, the Golden Eagles took advantage of a 12-2 run over five minutes in the second stanza that gave Marquette a 10-point lead, 49-39, with about nine minutes remaining in the game. Senior Jasmine McCullough sparked the MU run with a lay-up in the paint, and Quaye added six points during that time frame.

Auburn rallied to come within one point, 53-52, with its own 13-4 run, then took a one-point lead, 54-53, when DeWanna Bonner made a jumper with 3:50 left in the game. Quaye answered by drowning a long-range bucket that also help MU build another 7-2 run and put Marquette ahead by four points, 60-56, with just over two minutes remaining. McCovery nailed her own three pointer as the Tigers cut MU's lead to one, then took another point lead after Bonner was fouled and converted both of her attempts from the charity stripe.

Marquette would not back down and scored on consecutive fast-break attempts from Kamm and Ellis to put the game away for the Golden Eagles.

"Down the stretch we showed so much poise and maturity. When the score was tied and then they went up by one, we really buckled down and made stops. Krystal Ellis did an outstanding job of leading the break," Mitchell said.

Marquette had three players score in double figures with Quaye tallying a game high 21 points, Ellis followed with 20 and senior Danielle Kamm contributed 13. Marquette shot 46.8 percent (22-of-47) for the game including a team high 50 percent in the second half, while Auburn was 23-of-56 from the field for the game (41.1 percent). The Tigers also had three with more than 10 points, including 11 off the bench from Trevesha Jackson. Dewanna Bonner led Auburn with 16 points, while Tamela McCorvey chipped in 15.

Marquette capitalized on Auburn's miscues and generated 16 points off the Tigers' turnovers. The Golden Eagles also grabbed seven steals and a season high four blocks.

After being out-rebounding in the first half 20-16, Marquette dominated the boards in the second, grabbing 17 boards, six offensive and 11 defensive, to register 33 for the game. Senior Efueko Osagie-Landry led the effort with seven, while Ellis added six.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 15-4 lead highlighted by a blocked Auburn three-point attempt by Jasmine McCullough and treys from Quaye, Ellis and Kamm. Ellis helped push the lead to 12 points, 18-6, with her second three-pointer of the game.

After Ellis hit that long range jumper with 12:32 left in the first half, the Golden Eagles went on a six minute field goal drought leaving Auburn to capitalize on Marquette's misses scoring 10 points.

A pair of lay-ups from Ellis snapped Marquette's cold streak, but Auburn was able to come back and tie the game at 25 a piece. Trevesha Jackson tallied a lay-up to give the Tigers their first lead of the game, 27-26. Osagie-Landry made one of two free throws to help Marquette quickly tied the game for the third time, 27-27, with 2:27 left in the first.

Quaye drew a foul, made one of two free throws and Kamm added a layup to help Marquette go into the locker room with a three-point lead, 30-27.

The Golden Eagles ended the first half shooting 42.9 percent from the field, making 9-of-21 attempts, while the Tigers shot 36.7 percent, making 11-of-30 attempts. Ellis led all scorers in the first with 10 points, while Kamm and Quaye combined for 15 points. Auburn's bench came up big scoring 13 points in the first.

Marquette will play Xavier for the Paradise Jam Championship Saturday, at 2:30 p.m. CT.