Golden Eagles Soar Over the Portugal National Team, 81-74
6/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
June 3, 2007
BARREIRO, Portugal - The Marquette women's basketball team faced its toughest opponent of its European Tour Sunday night in the Portugal National Team. With a total team effort, Marquette defeated Portugal, 81-74. Junior to be Kelly Lam led Marquette with a game high 21 points, while fellow classmate Krystal Ellis added 15 points and five steals. Marissa Thrower registered 10 points and a team high eight rebounds.
"This has been our most competitive game so far being that we were playing a national team who is very athletic and plays at a very high level," said assistant coach Cara Consuegra. "Overall we played as a team. We wanted to win and played every second as if it was a regular season game. Now we must get our rest and prepare to play the same team tomorrow night."
Marquette struggled early on after a slow start, the Golden Eagles were down six points at the end of the first quarter, 20-14. But, with patience and tough defense, the Golden Eagles' offense came together. Marquette closed the gap early in the second half and was down by only one point, 24-23, about three minutes into the second period. Thrower, Lam and senior to be Svetlana Kovalenko combined for MU's next seven points to help the Golden Eagles go ahead for the first time, 32-29, with 3:46 remaining in the half.
Marquette shut down Portugal for the last three minutes of the first half allowing them to score just two points off free throws. The Golden Eagles headed to the locker room at halftime with the advantage, 35-31.
"We competed well tonight," added Consuegra. "We came out slow in the first half, but once we got our legs under us and adjusted to the physical nature of the game, our defense led to our offense"
Marquette started the third quarter the same way it finished the first half by holding Portugal scoreless for nearly the first three minutes of the quarter while MU pushed its lead to nine points, 43-34, with 6:41 remaining in the third. A string of three long-range buckets from Ellis and Janelle Harris put the score at 59-51 with just under 30 seconds remaining. Kovalenko's buzzer beating jumper ended the quarter, 61-53, in favor of the Golden Eagles.
Portugal attempted a come back in the fourth quarter, but was never able to come closer than six points. Lam converted all seven of her free throws in the second half and ended the game 13 of 14 from the charity stripe as MU held on for its third win in Europe.
"Our inside game looked good tonight. I was especially pleased with the play of Kelly Lam, Svetlana Kovalenko and Jocelyn Mellen in the post."
Marquette will have a rematch with the Portugal National Team for its fourth and final game of its tour of Spain and Portugal Monday night in Costa de Capanica.
