Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Alcorn State
#MUWBB Set to Open Season Against Alcorn State
11/7/2021 10:10:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Golden Eagles will begin 2021-22 campaign at home on Tuesday
The Marquette women's basketball team begins its 47th season on Tuesday night, as it plays host to Alcorn State at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed by the BIG EAST Digital Network on FloHoops with Patrick Reed (play-by-play) and Matt Menzl (color commentary) on the call from the Al McGuire Center.
The Golden Eagles are coming off a season in which they went 19-7 overall and 14-4 in conference play, made their fifth straight BIG EAST tournament title game appearance and fourth consecutive NCAA tournament.
Head coach Megan Duffy returns 10 players from last season's roster, including seven letterwinners and three players who started all 26 games.
Forward Lauren Van Kleunen returns for her sixth season with the program after averaging 13.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in 2020-21 while shooting 51% from the field. Marquette also brings back one of its top distributors, redshirt sophomore guard Jordan King, who dished out 104 assists last season. Redshirt junior forward Chloe Marotta is poised to build off her success from last season after averaging career-highs in points (6.8), rebounds (6.2) and assists (2.7).
Additionally, the Golden Eagles welcome three newcomers to the squad. Graduate guard Karissa McLaughlin (Purdue) and redshirt sophomore forward Kennedi Myles (Illinois) join the team via transfer and are each eligible to play immediately, while forward Makiyah Williams comes to Marquette as the team's lone true freshman.
Alcorn State finished last season 7-13 overall and 7-13 in conference play to finish sixth in the SWAC. It will be led by Nate Kilbert, who is in his second season after being named head coach in May of 2020.
The Braves will be without two of their three leading scorers from last season, but bring back Cayla Obillo, who averaged 8.7 points and shot a team-high 31% from 3-point range.
