Marquette Hosts Cincinnati on Tuesday for Senior Night
2/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 27, 2006
MILWAUKEE -
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The Marquette women's basketball team closes out play in the 2005-06 regular season tomorrow night when it hosts Cincinnati in a key BIG EAST matchup at the Al McGuire Center. The game will also mark the final regular season home game for seniors Amber Johnson, Tierra Shirley, and Carolyn Kieger.
"Senior Day is always full of emotion. As a coach, you always look back at what the seniors have accomplished on and off the court and reflect on the relationships you've forged." said head coach Terri Mitchell. "Tomorrow night will be no exception, with the caliber of individuals we will be honoring, as well as the importance of the game at hand."
Johnson has been a two-year player for Marquette, coming from Garden City Community College. She has seen action in 42 games in the past two seasons, averaging 2.2 points per game. This season, she has played a significant role in reserve play as one of the first guards off the bench.
"Amber has only been here a short time, but she has developed over the last two seasons." Mitchell said. "As a player, it is always tough to learn and adapt to a new system. But this year, Amber has contributed in a lot of ways to help us win."
Shirley, a Milwaukee native, has been a member of the Golden Eagles for the last four seasons, appearing in 70 games. She has also seen the bulk of her action in reserve play and has made her mark off-the-court, compiling a 3.47 grade-point average in her double-major of communications and education.
"Tierra has always had a good attitude and that selflessness over the past four years have been integral to our success." said Mitchell. "We value her because of her daily preparation, energy and her winning work ethic."
Kieger will go down in history as one of the best to ever don a Marquette uniform. She is the only Marquette player on the men's or women's side, to register statistical milestones of more than 1,200 points, 450 rebounds, 600 assists and 190 steals. She currently ranks 10th all-time in scoring, with 1,236 points and second all-time in assists, with 666.
She has started all but one game in her 117 game career, having scored in double-figures 68 games and tallied eight or more assists in a game 33 times. She ranks among the national leaders in assists, averaging 6.7 per game, and is one of 11 national finalists for the Nancy Lieberman Award, which is presented to the top collegiate point guard in Division I.
"Carolyn is going to graduate from Marquette as the most productive point guards we've ever had." said Mitchell. "She has a work ethic and a legacy that she will leave behind. She's a traditional point guard in the sense that she is always trying to deliver the pass first. Her leadership has enabled this team to compete at the highest levels."
The top four seeds in the BIG EAST standings are set, but the middle seeds are where it gets interesting. With a win tomorrow over the Bearcats, along with a few other key results, Marquette would finish with a 9-7 mark in league play and could be as high as sixth place. With a loss, and other results around the league, MU could finish as low as 11th.
"It's beginning to sound like a broken record, but this is what BIG EAST basketball is all about. It is what we expected in our first season in this league." Mitchell explained. "It is exactly what you're looking for: Senior Day, at home, closing out the regular season, so much at stake, and an opponent like Cincinnati who is very, very tough."
The Bearcats come to Milwaukee with a 17-9 overall record, including a 7-8 mark in conference action. Last time out, on Feb. 25, UC dropped a 75-66 overtime decision to Notre Dame.
They are led by Treasure Humphries' 12.9 points per game. The junior guard also leads the team in assists, at 3.7 per game. Shelly Bellman is the only other Cincinnati player averaging double-digits in scoring, at 10.6, while leading the squad in rebounding at 6.2 boards per contest.. Four others average better than 6.0 ppg.
"It is going to take hard work and focus on Tuesday night. Cincinnati is a tough team, they rebound well, and we are going to give them all the respect they deserve." Mitchell stated. "They're fighting for a good spot in the tournament seeding just like we are, so it ought to be a battle."