Golden Eagles Come Back to Defeat Northwestern, 55-54

Dec. 2, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. - Senior guard Krystal Ellis scored the Golden Eagles' final nine points of the game to help the Marquette women's basketball team to overcome a 16-point deficit to defeat Northwestern, 55-54, Tuesday evening at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The win snaps MU's two-game skid to improve to 6-2 overall, while the Wildcats drop to 2-5 on the season.

Ellis finished the night with a game-high 18 points and five steals, and sophomore Angel Robinson contributed 14 points and eight rebounds. For the game, the Golden Eagles shot 36.2 percent, including 42.4 percent in the second half after shooting a meager 28.0 percent in the first.

Kristin Cartwright paced the Wildcats with 12 points, while Brittany Orban, Amy Jaeschke and Meshia Reed each scored 10 points apiece. Marquette held Northwestern to make just five of its attempts from the floor and forced 10 turnovers in the second half during its comeback.

After being out-scored 34-20 in the first half, the Golden Eagles came out of the locker room with a renewed sense of urgency. Ellis sparked an 11-4 MU run that helped the Golden Eagles cut the deficit to seven points, 38-31, just over four minutes into the second half.

However, Northwestern regained its 10-point lead following buckets by Cartwright and Jaeschke.

Another pair of made free throws by Orban after Krystal Ellis was forced to the bench with her third foul with just over 13 minutes to play gave NU a 12-point advantage. Monfre quickly answered with a trifecta putting the score at 43-34, still in favor of the Wildcats.

The Golden Eagles didn't back down and continued to chip away at NU's lead. Marquette came within six points, 46-40 with 8:32 to play, using a series of key defensive stops and converting their own scoring opportunities.

With the Wildcats ahead 52-44 coming out of the final official timeout, senior Marissa Thrower scored a put-back opportunity to help MU come within six points, 52-46. Ellis scored the next basket with 3:04 remaining to keep Marquette within six points, 54-48.

The Golden Eagles made a key stop with 2:09 left as NU's Jenny Eckhart was called for an offensive foul. Ellis then scored the next six points to tie the game at 54-54, with 35 seconds to play.

On the MU's next possession Ellis drew the foul with 13 seconds left on the clock and sunk the first of two free throws to give the Golden Eagles the lead and win, 55-54.

Marquette shot a dismal 28.0 percent in the first making only seven of its 25 attempts from the floor, while turning the ball over 14 times.

The Wildcats quickly jumped on the Golden Eagles with a 5-0 run to put Northwestern ahead 13-7. MU cut that deficit to one point, 13-12, but Northwestern quickly pushed the lead to 15 points, 28-13, over the next nine minutes. The only point the Golden Eagles would score over that nine-minute frame was a free throw by Robinson.

The Golden Eagles return home to host Kansas Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m., at the Al McGuire Center.