WBB Set For Road Opener vs Colorado

FULL NOTES (PDF)

The Marquette women's basketball team (3-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) is set to hit the road for the first time of its 2021-22 campaign Friday evening, as it takes on Colorado (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12) at 8 p.m., CT at the CU Events Center. The contest will be streamed online by Pac-12 Networks.

The Golden Eagles opened their season with a trio of dominant wins at home, defeating Alcorn State, NJIT and Southern at the Al McGuire Center. This is the fifth time in the past nine seasons that MU has started a season 3-0. In its three contests, the Marquette defense is holding opponents to just 39.4 points per game, while forcing 21.3 turnovers.

In its most recent contest, a 65-40 win over Southern on Nov. 15, MU held the Jaguars to just 27.0 percent (17-of-63) shooting from the field, and won the rebounding battle 49-25, including 20 offensive boards.

Head coach Megan Duffy returns 10 players from last season's roster, including seven letterwinners and three players who started all 26 games. The Golden Eagles also welcomed in two transfers and a freshman to the squad.

Colorado finished last season 12-11 overall and 8-8 in conference play to finish sixth in the Pac-12. The Buffs made a run to the WNIT Quarterfinals, where they lost to Ole Miss, 65-56. They are off to a 2-0 start to 2021-22 with road wins over Oklahoma State and Air Force.

The Buffaloes will be led by JR Payne, who is in her sixth season with the program. Their top statistical performer this season is junior center Quay Miller, who is averaging a team-best 13.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

SCOUTING THE BUFFALOES

• Southern finished the 2020-21 campaign with a 12-11 overall record, including a 7-3 mark at the CU Events Center.

• The Buffs' 8-8 conference mark earned a sixth-seed in the Pac-12 Tournament, where they fell to Washington in the first round, 68-54.

• Colorado made a run to the quarterfinal round of the WNIT where they fell to Ole Miss, 65-56, after posting wins over Louisiana and Nebraska.

• The Buffs opened the 2021-22 season with a pair of road wins, defeating Oklahoma State, 55-45, and Air Force, 58-53. Their game against MU will be their home opener.

• Senior center Quay Miller is leading the team in scoring (13.0) and rebounding (6.5) this year.

• Fifth year forward Mya Hollingshed is the top returner statistically for CU after averaging 15.4 points and 7.8 boards per contest in 2020-21 to garner All-Pac-12 honors.

• The Buffaloes return all five starters from last season and each of their top-nine scorers.

MARQUETTE ROLLS THROUGH OPENING HOMESTAND

• The Golden Eagles began 2021-22 on a high note, posting convincing wins in each of their first three contests. After opening with a 96-35 win over Alcorn State, MU rolled past NJIT and Southern by scores of 90-58 and 65-40, respectively.

• Holding opponents to just 44.3 points per game, Marquette ranks 20th in the nation and top in the conference. Additionally, MU has held opponents to just 29.7 percent (52-of-175) shooting from the field.

• Marquette has outrebounded opponents by a combined total of 147-70. The +25.7 rebound margin ranks third nationally.

• In her first three games at MU, graduate guard Karissa McLaughlin has reached double figures each time and scored 20+ points twice. She is shooting an efficient 50.0 percent (19-of-38) from the field and 45.0 percent (9-of-20) from 3-point range.

MCLAUGHLIN EARNS BIG EAST HONORS

• Following her first two games as a Golden Eagle, Karissa McLaughlin was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

• McLaughlin led MU in scoring in its first two games, dropping 21 points against Alcorn State and 22 points against NJIT. Additionally, she averaged 3.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.0 rebounds per contest.

KARLEN COMING ON STRONG

• In what were just the first three starts of her career, sophomore forward Liza Karlen has made a big impact for Marquette.

• Karlen is averaging 9.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, up from 4.0 points and 3.1 boards a season ago.

• She tied her career high in rebounds (9) in the season opener against Alcorn State, then set a new career high with 10 against NJIT.

• In MU's game against Southern, Karlen led all scorers with a career-high 12 points.