Marquette University Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts No. 5/6 Rutgers Tuesday
1/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2008
MILWAUKEE - The Marquette women's basketball team will have an early BIG EAST test as No. 5/6 Rutgers pays a visit to the Al McGuire Center on Tuesday, Jan. 8, for an 8 p.m. tip-off. The Scarlet Knights are the first of three Top 25 ranked foes the Golden Eagles will play in the next 12 days. They are also the first Top 10 team Marquette will face this season.
The game will be broadcast live on College Sports Television (CSTV) as part of its "Conference Game of the Week" with Ann Schatz and Tom Hart calling all the action from courtside. Marquette's game against Rutgers is the second game of a doubleheader that features Notre Dame at Louisville at 6 p.m. CT. The game can be heard live on WJYI 1340 AM with Kent Sommerfeld and Tony Matera on the call.
Tuesday is "Go Gold Night!" Fans, wear your Marquette gold and help Marquette defend its home court. All fans wearing gold will receive a free bag of popcorn. In two seasons of BIG EAST play, Marquette is an impressive 13-3 in league action at "The Al."
The Golden Eagles are coming off a convincing 29-point victory over Providence on Jan. 5, the BIG EAST opener for both teams. Reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Week Angel Robinson came off the bench to score a collegiate high 16 points in the win over the Friars. Currently, Robinson is third on the team in scoring with 9.1 points.
Junior guard Krystal Ellis continues to lead the Golden Eagles with 20.0 ppg, an average that stands second in the league. Ellis earned BIG EAST Honor Roll accolades for the week following her Al McGuire Center record 32-point performance in MU's 78-74 win over Western Michigan.
Marquette has shot well in its last seven contests, averaging 44.2 percent from the floor.
The Scarlet Knights return all five starters from a season ago that won the BIG EAST Conference Tournament and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament Final. This season, Rutgers was picked to finish second behind Connecticut in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Rutgers, who moved to No. 5 in the latest Associated Press Poll, is riding a six-game win streak coming into the game at Marquette. In their last time out, the Scarlet Knights defeated St. John's 58-50 in their league opener. Epiphanny Prince led the charge with 15 points. She currently is one of two Scarlet Knights to average double figures with a team-high 13.5 ppg. Matee Ajavon follows with 11.0 ppg.
Rutgers leads the all-time series 3-0. The last time the two teams met was in the 2007 BIG EAST Tournament Semifinal. The Scarlet Knights earned a 63-55 win over the Golden Eagles to advance to the tournament championship where they defeated Connecticut, 55-47.
