No. 15/14 Marquette Travels to Villanova on Friday

MILWAUKEE – Fresh with a new program-best ranking in either poll, No. 15/14 Marquette will take to the road for the first time since Dec. 9 and face Villanova on Friday, Jan. 11 in a 10:30 a.m. CT matinee as the Wildcats host a local education day from newly renovated Finneran Pavilion.

The game will air live on the BIG EAST Digital network with Matt Janus and Christine Motta calling the action.

With senior Allazia Blockton sidelined for the past two games, classmate Natisha Hiedeman has guided the Golden Eagles (12-3, 3-0) to a perfect start in BIG EAST play winning the three games by a combined +30 points. Hiedeman leads the squad with 17.2 points per game as all five MU starters are averaging double digits. Blockton tallies 16.5 points per contest, Danielle King 11.5, Erika Davenport 11.4 and Amani Wilborn turns in 10.5 points per night.

The Golden Eagles combine for 84.8 points per game, which is a narrow second in the BIG EAST behind DePaul (84.9 ppg) and checking in at fifth in the country.

Following Friday's contest Marquette will travel to Georgetown to take on the Hoyas on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. CT.

OPPONENT

VILLANOVA (10-4, 2-2 BIG EAST): Villanova split its two games last weekend, picking up a close 54-52 win at Creighton, but fell at Providence, 67-61 playing shorthanded. Adriana Hahn is averaging 15.2 points over the Wildcats last five outings, but Kelly Jekot leads the way in the season averaging 13.7 points per contest.

Following in typical Villanova footsteps, the Wildcats are a successful three-point shooting team ranking third in the BIG EAST and eighth in the NCAA with 10.2 treys per game as Mary Gedaka is eighth in the country in field goal percentage knocking down 64.3 percent of her attempts.

THE SERIES
This is the 22nd meeting between Marquette and Villanova and the Golden Eagles hold a 12-9 advantage in the season. MU has won four straight against the Wildcats.

STORYLINES

Marquette establishes two new program bests in the rankings this week and moves up to No. 15 in the AP Poll and No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. The Golden Eagles have been ranked every week of the season.
Natisha Hiedeman has been unstoppable in the past four games and is averaging 24.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.8 steals per game dating back to Dec. 22 against Notre Dame. That includes three 20+ point efforts with a career-high-tying 32 in the victory over DePaul.
Allazia Blockton is just 11 points (1,989) from reaching 2,000 career points for the first time in Marquette program history, men's or women's. Jerel McNeal is the men's all-time leading scorer with 1,985 career points.
Against DePaul, MU had its second game this season with two or more players recording over 20 points in a game. Natisha Hiedeman turned in 32 points, while Amani Wilborn recorded 20. Marquette also had two players record 20-or more points in a win over Binghamton as isabelle Spingola totaled a season-best 24 points, while Allazia Blockton recorded 20 points.