Marquette Falls Short At Providence, 51-49

Feb. 25, 2009

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Cold shooting doomed the Marquette women's basketball team as it fell 51-49 at Providence Wednesday night at Alumni Hall. Sophomore Angel Robinson led Marquette with 19 points, but it was not enough as the Golden Eagles' three-game win streak came to a halt. With the loss, Marquette falls to 16-12 overall, 7-7 in BIG EAST play.

For the game, Marquette made just 14 total field goals shooting a dismal 26.9 percent from the floor, while the Friars connected on 45.7 percent of their attempts from the field.

Chelsea Marandola was the only Friar in double figures with 19 points. She scored 13 of those points in the second half to help Providence outscore Marquette, 28-21, in the second half.

Marquette came out of halftime ahead by five points, 28-23, but the Friars went on a 6-2 run over the first six minutes of the second half to come within one point, 30-29. The Golden Eagles maintained a three-point lead for the next four minutes before Marandola nailed a 3-pointer to tie the score, 36-36, with 8:40 left to play.

For the next three minutes, neither team held more than a two-point advantage, until the Friars scored six straight points to take a six-point lead, 46-40, with 4:35 to play.

Marquette rallied behind Robinson who scored the Golden Eagles' next eight points to bring them within two points, 50-48, with 1:45 to play.

Marissa Thrower had a chance to tie the score with 1:18 left to play after drawing a foul, however, Thrower would only convert the first of two free throws to leave MU within one point, 50-49.

With 9.8 seconds left to play, and the score still at 50-49 in favor of Providence, head coach Terri Mitchell called a timeout to set up Marquette's possession. Robinson missed her jumper and the Friars knocked the ball out of bounds giving MU another chance to set up the game-winning play with three seconds left. Robinson missed her attempt and Marissa Thrower was called for a foul with one second to go.

Shantee Darrian made the first of two foul shots to give the Friars the 51-49 victory.

The Golden Eagles will play at DePaul on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m.