Gonzaga Downs Marquette, 77-64

Nov. 23, 2007

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Marquette women's basketball team couldn't overcome an 11-point half-time deficit and suffered its second consecutive road loss at Gonzaga, 77-64, Friday evening at McCarthey Athletic Center.

With the loss, the Golden Eagles fall to 2-2 on the season, while Gonzaga remains perfect at 4-0 overall.

Marquette played its second straight game without the services of junior Krystal Ellis who sat out with a sprained knee.

"We played a very good Gonzaga team, who in my mind is an NCAA caliber team," said head coach Terri Mitchell. "We battled hard and all we are trying to do is get better. It has been a very difficult trip for all of us because we are not used to losing and not used to losing two straight. At the same time we are doing this without Krystal Ellis. From the Oregon game, to the Gonzaga game we have grown up a lot and different players have stepped up. Now we must put a full game together and know we are capable of winning without her (Ellis). A month from now, I know we are going to look back on this and know we grew up and got better. We just can't see it now."

Senior Svetlana Kovalenko and freshman Angel Robinson led the Golden Eagles each scoring in double figures. Kovalenko notched her first double double ofher career with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Robinson gave Marquette, 12 points, seven steals and five assists.

"Angel stepped up in a huge way tonight. Her effort on both ends of the court was tremendous. She was trying to thread the needle. She made a lot of spectacular passes and we just need to be ready for the type of passes she is delivering. V keeps stepping it up and working hard. Her senior leadership for us is invaluable," Mitchell said.

Collectively, Marquette made 28 of its 59 shots from the floor (43.1 percent), but made only eight of its 18 attempts from the charity stripe.

Five players with double-digit point totals paced Gonzaga. Heather Bowman led the Bulldogs' effort with 17 points, while Janelle Bekkering scored 15, and Rachel Kane, Maria Hassett and Courtney Vandersloot each had 10 points. For the game, Gonzaga shot 47.5 percent, connecting on 28 shots from the floor. The Bulldogs made 17 of their 21 attempts from the free-throw line, including five in the final minute of the game.

With Marquette leading by one point, 27-26, after a quick five-point outburst with 5:31 left in the first half; Gonzaga went on a 16-4 run to go into the intermission up by 11 points, 42-31.

Kovalenko scored the first bucket of the second half to help MU come within nine points, 42-33, but Gonzaga scored six straight points to give the Bulldogs a 15-point cushion (48-33) just over three minutes into the second frame.

Gonzaga would keep its double-figure lead for a majority of the second half as Marquette could only cut the deficit to seven points, 54-47, with 9:09 left to play following a 7-1 run.

An 8-4 Bulldog run to go ahead by 16 points with 2:41 left to play put the game out of reach for the Golden Eagles. The Bulldogs sealed the win converting 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute of the contest.

The Golden Eagles will return to the Al McGuire Center on Monday, Nov. 26, to host William & Mary. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Time Warner Sports Ch. 32.