Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Eastern Illinois
Golden Eagles Dominate Eastern Illinois, 85-56
3/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 18, 2010
MILWAUKEE - Behind a balanced scoring effort with five players in double figures, the Marquette women's basketball team topped Eastern Illinois, 85-56, in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Thursday night at the Al McGuire Center.
With the win the Golden Eagles improve to 17-15 overall and advance to the second round of the WNIT where they will play the winner of Illinois/Western Kentucky. A date, time and location is to be determined. The two teams will play Friday, March 19 at Western Kentucky
Sarina Simmons led Marquette with 14 points, while Angel Robinson added 12 points and nine assists, and Janelle Harris and Courtney Weibel each added 10 points for the Golden Eagles who shot 47.5 percent (29-of-61) for the game.
It was Marquette's defense that was too much for the Panthers to handle as it forced 30 turnovers and scored a season-high 40 points off those turnovers.
Ta'Kenya Nixon scored a game-high 17 points for the Panthers who connected on 36 percent (18-of-50) of their shots for the game.
The Golden Eagles used a 9-2 run in the first five minutes of the game to gain the early advantage and pushed it to double digits midway through the first half. The Golden Eagles were ahead by as many as 25 points and went into half time up, 48-30.
Marquette opened the second half with a 17-3 run and never looked back en route to the victory. Ten of those points came off Eastern Illinois miscues as the Golden Eagles forced seven turnovers in the first five minutes of the second frame.
