Marquette Opens WBCA Classic Play Against Gonzaga

Nov. 26, 2008

MILWAUKEE -

WBCA Classic Tournament Bracket PDF Format

It will be Feast Weekend at the Al McGuire Center starting Friday as the Marquette women's basketball team hosts the WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association) Classic Nov. 28-30. Along with Marquette, No. 16/15 Virginia, Gonzaga and Utah make up the field of competition that is arguably the toughest holiday tournament in the United States.

Virginia of the ACC and Utah of the Mountain West Conference will clash in the opening game of the round-robin tournament at 5 p.m. on Friday, while Marquette will host undefeated Gonzaga of the West Coast Conference at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, Gonzaga and Utah will tangle at 5 p.m., and Marquette will play Virginia at 7 p.m. On Sunday, Virginia and Gonzaga will meet at 1 p.m., while Marquette closes out the tournament against Utah at 3 p.m.

Marquette's games against Gonzaga and Virginia can be heard live on WJYI 1340 AM with Matt Salmon and Tony Matera on the call. Sunday's game against Utah will be produced by WMUR and available online at www.gomarquette.com.

Tickets are still available! Call 414-288-GOMU for more information.

A look at the field of competition...

Marquette (4-0 overall)
For the first time since the 2004-05 season, Marquette has started the season 4-0. It is only the fourth time in porgram history Marquette has begun the season with four straight wins. Overall through four games, senior All-America candidate Krystal Ellis leads the team in scoring with 13.5 ppg, followed by junior Lauren Thomas-Johnson averaging 11.5 ppg. The Golden Eagles have shot 50 percent or better from the floor in three of their last four games including a season-high 52.7 percent at Indiana State. Marquette has also outscored each of its first four opponents by at least 22 points.

Gonzaga (5-0 overall)
Gonzaga is off to its best start in school history with wins over Eastern Oregon (101-44), Washington (64-59), Utah Valley (95-79), Montana State (100-47) and Wyoming (68-58). The Bulldogs have eclipsed the 100-point total twice this season already and currently average 85.6 points per game. Gonzaga boasts two players who are averaging almost 20 points per game in Courtney Vandersloot with 19.8 ppg and 8.2 apg, and reigning WCC Player of the Week Heather Bowman with 19.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg. Marquette is 1-1 all-time against Gonzaga, 1-0 when playing the Bulldogs at the Al McGuire Center.

Friday night's matchup between Marquette and Gonzaga is part of the nationwide Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project, using Jesuit basketball to raise awareness of Jesuit education. Both Gonzaga and Marquette are Jesuit schools. The Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project highlights more than 90 games this season between men's and women's teams from the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities across the U.S.

Utah (1-2 overall)
Utah enters the tournament looking for a win after dropping its last two games at South Dakota State (70-58) and to No. 7 Louisville (59-48). It won't be easy for the Utes as they open the WBCA Classic playing its second ranked opponent in a week in No. 16/15 Virginia. Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Week Morgan Warburton leads Utah with 19.0 ppg and Kalee Whipple follows with 15.0 ppg. It will be the first meeting between Marquette and Utah

Virginia (3-1 overall)
No. 16/15 Virginia enters the tournament after a 77-43 win over Colorado on Nov. 24. Virginia's only setback of the year was a 78-70 loss to then-No. 25 Old Dominion on Nov. 21. The Cavaliers have five players averaging double-digit points, including All-America candidate and reigning ACC Player of the Week Monica Wright with 21.3 points per game. Wright scored a career-high 35 points UVA's win at then-No. 5 Tennessee. Virginia currently has four other players averaging double-digit points: Aisha Mohammed (13.8), Chelsea Shine (13.8), Whitney Edwards (10.8) and Ariana Moorer (10.3). Marquette is 0-2 all-time against Virginia.

2008 WBCA Classic Tournament Schedule
Friday, Nov. 28
Utah vs Virginia - 5 p.m.
Gonzaga at Marquette - 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 29
Utah vs Gonzaga - 5 p.m.
Virginia at Marquette - 7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 30
Gonzaga vs Virginia - 1 p.m.
Utah at Marquette - 3 p.m.

Ticket prices are $10 for reserved seats, $6 for general admission.
*ticket grants admission to both games per session.