WBB Earns 78-48 Win over Butler

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Marquette women's basketball team (13-5, 6-3 BIG EAST) earned its second-straight road win Sunday afternoon, defeating Butler 78-48 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

This win marks the 100th career victory for MU head coach Megan Duffy, who is in her third season at Marquette after two seasons at Miami (OH). Reaching the 100-win plateau in just 140 games, she became the fastest to do so among active BIG EAST coaches.

In her return to her home state of Indiana, graduate guard Karissa McLaughlin came out of the gates firing as she went for 17 points in the first quarter. Marquette established an early 20-4 lead and never trailed en route to its second-straight BIG EAST road win.

The Golden Eagles shot an efficient 53.3 percent (32-of-60) from the floor, and a season-best mark of 60.0 percent (6-of-10) from 3-point range. McLaughlin finished with a team-best 20 points.

Sophomore forward Liza Karlen followed up a stellar performance earlier this week against Xavier with a career-high 19 points, to go along with seven boards and two assists.

The Bulldogs (1-15, 0-7 BIG EAST) were paced by Celena Taborn, who finished with team-highs of 14 points and five boards.

This was McLaughlin's 19th career 20-point game, and seventh of the season.
Liza Karlen surpassed her previous career high of 14 points (vs Xavier 12/3/21) as she recorded the eighth double-figure scoring game of her career.
Lauren Van Kleunen scored 10 points to move just three points of moving into Marquette's all-time top-20 in career scoring. She currently has 1,274.
Marquette had its second-best shooting half of the season in the first half, connecting on 59 percent (17-of-29) of its field goal attempts.
This was the eighth time this season that Marquette has held its opponent under 50 points.
Marquette dominated the glass, winning the rebounding battle 38-20.
Chloe Marotta led MU's rebounding efforts with eight, including five offensive boards.
With the win, Marquette is now 17-9 all-time against Butler.
The Golden Eagles have now won five-straight and 14 of the past 15 matchups against the Bulldogs.
This concludes a season series sweep of Butler for MU, after winning 59-45 in Milwaukee on Dec. 5.

UP NEXT: Marquette returns to the Al McGuire Center next week to take on Seton Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 26. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (CT) and the game will be broadcast by BEDN on FloHoops.

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).