#MUWBB Bounces Back with 77-48 Win over Butler

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette women's basketball team bounced back with a 77-48 win over the Butler Bulldogs on Wednesday afternoon at the Al McGuire Center.

Junior forward Chloe Marotta led a group of four Golden Eagles (13-4, 10-3 BIG EAST) to reach double figures, scoring 10 of her 12 points in the first half. Jordan King and Selena Lott each had 11 points and filled up the stat sheet, with King bringing down a career-best nine rebounds and Lott adding in seven assists. Freshman guard Rose Nkumu came off the bench to tally a career-best eight points, all coming in the second half.

Led by five early points from senior guard Selena Lott, MU rode a hot shooting start to an 18-9 lead. Butler guard Genesis Parker helped the Bulldogs (1-13, 1-12 BIG EAST) get back in the game with three 3-pointers in a five minute stretch to lead a 7-2 run to end the quarter.

The Golden Eagles responded by exploding out of the gates in the second quarter, scoring 12 of the first 14 points in the frame to take a 32-20 lead. MU got a pair of 3-pointers from Claife Kaifes and hit the glass hard, outrebounding BU 26-11 in the game's first 20 minutes of play. Chloe Marotta led MU with 10 points and three rebounds in 14 minutes in the first half.

MU started the second half making seven of its first 10 shots to burst out to a 51-29 lead. The lead would get as large as 29 as the Golden Eagles found their stride to earn their 10th conference victory of the season.

Coach Duffy and company held Butler to just 31 percent shooting from the floor and outrebounded the Bulldogs, 48 to 26. MU had 26 assists on its 31 made baskets and shot 41.3 percent from the field. 10 different Golden Eagles reached the scoring column on Wednesday.

Genesis Parker and Upe Atosu led Butler with 16 points while Jaia Alexander added in nine for the Bulldogs.

POSTGAME NOTES:
-Marquette tied or won the rebounding battle for the 46th time in the 49 games of the Coach Duffy era (48 to 26 edge).
-The Golden Eagles moved to 7-0 this season when holding an opponent under 40 percent shooting from the field.
-Rose Nkumu scored a career-high eight points, hitting two 3-pointers.
-Lauren Van Kleunen grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds, her fifth career game with 10+ boards.
-Chloe Marotta (12 points) reached double figures for the fourth time this season and ninth time in her career.
-Camryn Taylor (10 points, seven rebounds) reached double figures for the 22nd time in her career.
-Claire Kaifes hit multiple 3-pointers for the sixth time this season. She hit two 3-pointers Wednesday.
-Jordan King (11 points) reached double figures in scoring for the eighth time this season. She also set a career-high with nine rebounds.
-Selena Lott (11 points) reached double figures for the 12th time this year and 45th time in her career. She also had seven assists, her 29th career game with five-or-more assists.

UP NEXT:
Marquette travels to Providence for a game on Saturday, Feb. 13 at noon Central time. FloHoops will provide streaming coverage.

Keep up with the Marquette women's basketball program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteWBB) and Instagram (@marquettewbb) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteWBB).