Marquette Wins 2010 Sun and Fun Classic

Dec. 30, 2010

MIAMI, Fla. - Warm weather seems to bring out the best in the Marquette women's basketball team in holiday tournaments.

Tatiyiana McMorris tied her career high with 19 points as the Golden Eagles used hot shooting to beat Louisiana Tech, 83-75, in the championship game of the 26th annual Sun and Fun Classic at U.S. Century Bank Arena on Thursday afternoon.

McMorris was named the 2010 Sun and Fun Classic Tournament Most Valuable Player and Paige Fiedorowicz was also named to the all-tournament team.

MU won its second tropical event in the last five years, following up its 2006 Paradise Jam title in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Golden Eagles (12-2) now have won five straight games for the second time already this season.

MU, which placed five players in double figures for the second straight day, was 32-49 from the floor (65.3 percent) and 15-18 from the free-throw line.

Angel Robinson just missed a triple-double, scoring nine points to go along with 10 rebounds and seven assists. MU had 26 assists on its 32 baskets, its fourth straight game with 20 or more.

MU missed two shots and committed five turnovers on its first seven possessions. But then Paige Fiedorowicz scored six straight points and Angel Robinson keyed a 7-0 run as the Golden Eagles took their first lead at 17-16.

McMorris added three 3-pointers, and 3-point plays by McMorris and Sarina Simmons gave MU its biggest lead at 41-35. McMorris led all first-half scorers with 12 as the Golden Eagles were 17-27 from the floor.

Tarkeisha Wysinger-Mackey and Adrienne Johnson each had 11 points to lead La. Tech, which trailed 42-39 at the break. Johnson was 5-5 from the floor, one day after going 13-17 and scoring 30 points in the Lady Techsters' semifinal win over Georgia. Wysinger-Mackey finished with 19 and Johnson 17 for La. Tech (7-5).

Fiedorowicz also scored MU's first six points of the second half as the Golden Eagles continued their torrid shooting, making nine of their first 10 shots.

Back-to-back layups by Jasmine Collins, the second resulting in a 3-point play, capped a 7-0 run, and her putback gave MU its biggest lead at 71-63 with 5:50 to play.

La. Tech responded with a 5-0 run before two free throws by Collins and a basket by Katherine Plouffe made it 75-68 with 3:06 remaining.

McMorris nailed another 3-pointer to give MU a 78-70 lead with 2:37 remaining, and the Golden Eagles wrapped up their trophy effort by making five straight free throws.

It was just the second meeting between the two teams, with the first coming 16 years ago to the day in the Junkanoo Shootout in Nassau, Bahamas.

The Golden Eagles are finished with non-conference action and will resume BIG EAST Conference play on Wed. Jan. 5, against Notre Dame at the Al McGuire Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Terri Mitchell

About the team's performance overall...
"I just loved the determination of our players and the focus they had. We had a quick turn around to get ready for this game and I thought they did an unbelievable job. This was obviously a shootout and both teams were shooting a real high percentage. There wasn't a lot of defense at first, but in the second half our defense really kicked in. That is when we talked about contesting shot and making a difference on defense."

"I thought we shot the ball extremely well and were very unselfish. Twenty-six assists to 32 shots; once again we are sharing the ball and making the extra pass. It was a great way to end non-conference. Over the last two games we have had so many people contribute. The enthusiasm of this team is just a lot of fun to be around. It is contagious. To come out of non-conference play 11-1 and get ready for BIG EAST play is just first step for us. We have so many games ahead of us that are going to be tough, but we are playing with a lot of confidence."

About keeping the focus with two games in less than 24 hours of each other...
"I give the players the credit. We got back late last night and watched film after the second game. We got up this morning, did a quick walk through and went through all of their plays. They were so dialed in to what we needed to do to win this game. Offensively, when we were giving them calls and what to look for they were so good about doing that. When you look at everyone that contributed in these two wins, it shows the leadership and unselfishness of this team. We are improving and getting better every game. I feel we got better through this tournament, better playing on the road and now we are going to settle in to what will be an incredible BIG EAST season."

About the play of Tatiyiana McMorris...
"I thought Tati played so consistent the last two days. Today she hit big shots in critical moments, especially down the stretch. She is consistent, she is a leader, she wants it. She deserves that MVP. What was tough is that there were so many players that could have been MVP in this tournament because everyone contributed. Paige Fiedorowicz was another player that played so well and consistent over these two games."