Golden Eagles Top Cleveland State, 69-66

Nov. 26, 2009

CANCUN, Mexico -

The Marquette women's basketball team obviously likes being in the tropics for Thanksgiving.

After winning the 2006 Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Golden Eagles opened play in the Caribbean Challenge in Cancun, Mexico on Thursday afternoon with a 69-66 victory over Cleveland State.

Four players scored in double figures led by senior Janelle Harris with 13. Sophomore Jessica Pachko added 12, junior Courtney Weibel registered 11 senior and Lauren Thomas-Johnson contributed 10.

Junior guard Angel Robinson, who recorded the first triple-double in program history on Saturday, injured her right ankle taking a charge with 13:35 remaining in the first half and did not return.

Weibel sparked a 9-0 run to give MU its biggest lead at 20-9 with a 3-pointer and the second two-point basket of her career.

Marquette led 34-27 at the break before the Vikings rallied to get within 52-51 before a triple by Harris stopped the run.

Cleveland State tied the game at 57 with 7:08 to play, but couldn't take the lead. Paige Fiedorowicz, Tatiyiana McMorris and Pachko hit big shots as MU went on a 9-1 run over the next five minutes for a 66-58 advantage.

The Vikings cut it back down to two, but a layup by Sarina Simmons and a free throw by Thomas-Johnson enabled MU to escape when CSU's Kailey Klein missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

Klein finished the game with 14 points, while Shawnita Garland led all scorers with 17, Jessica Roque added 15 and Shalonda Winton recorded 12 for Cleveland State who dropped to 1-3 overall.

Marquette (4-1) will face No. 12/10 Duke at 6:30 p.m. CST on Friday.