WBB Closes Non-Conference Play vs Colorado Wednesday

MILWAUKEE — The Marquette women's basketball team (9-2, 2-1 BIG EAST) wraps up the non-conference portion of its 2022-23 campaign this week as it hosts Colorado (9-3, 0-1 Pac-12) on Wednesday, Dec. 21. The Golden Eagles and the Buffaloes will tip-off at 12 p.m. (CT) from the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee. The game will be broadcast on FloHoops with Bob Brainerd (play-by-play) and Michelle Griffin Wenzel (analyst) on the call. Live stats and stream links are available at GoMarquette.com.

In the team's most recent outing, Marquette posted a 67-46 win over Butler on Sunday inside of the Al McGuire Center. Four different MU players reached double-figures in scoring led by Rose Nkumu's 15 points as the Golden Eagles remained perfect at home. Marquette dominated the glass and outscored Butler 46-20 in the paint en route to its second BIG EAST victory of the year.

The Buffaloes enter the contest with a 9-3 record after getting off to a strong start to the young season. All three of CU's losses this season (Texas Tech, Tennessee, Utah) have come on the road. Most recently, Colorado faced Alcorn State at home on Friday, earning an 82-47 victory.

Colorado has been led statistically this year by senior center Quay Miller, who averages team-best marks of 14.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest. Senior guard Jaylyn Sherrod averages a team-best 5.1 assists. The Buffaloes are coached by JR Payne, in her seventh season at the head of the program.

Marquette and Colorado have met up three times in a series which began in 1994, the Buffs leading 2-1. Last season in Boulder, CU earned a 69-53 win over Marquette. All-time against Pac-12 foes, the Golden Eagles hold a combined 8-11 overall record.

SCOUTING THE BUFFALOES

• Colorado enters Wednesday's contest with a 9-3 mark on the season, and an 0-1 start to Pac-12 play.

• In 2021-22 the Buffs went 22-9 overall to finish fifth in the Pac-12. They went on to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to BIG EAST foe Creighton in the first round 84-74.

• CU is coming off of an 82-47 win at home over Alcorn State on Friday.

• Colorado is 2-3 in road contests this season, with losses to Texas Tech, Tennessee and Utah.

• The team has been led statistically this year by senior center Quay Miller, who averages team-best marks of 14.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest. Senior guard Jaylyn Sherrod averages a team-best 5.1 assists.

• The Buffs rank 21st nationally in 3-point percentage (.377) and 32th in scoring margin (+18.6) this season.

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST COLORADO

• Wednesday's meeting will be the fourth all-time between Marquette and Colorado, a series which began in 1994.

• Colorado holds a 2-1 lead in the series, with all games being played in Boulder.

• In last season's meeting on Nov. 19, the Buffaloes earned a 69-53 win over Marquette. CU was led by Mya Hollingshed's 22 points and 10 boards, while MU was paced by Jordan King's 16 points.

• Against current Pac-12 programs, Marquette holds an 8-11 combined record.

All Time Meetings

DATE LOCATION RESULT SCORE

11/19/21 A L 53-69

4/2/08 A W 86-72

3/16/94 A L 74-77

STARTING FIVE

• The Golden Eagles are 33-11 against non-conference opponents under Coach Megan Duffy.

• Coach Duffy is off to the best coaching start through four seasons of any coach in program history. She boasts a 75-28 overall mark (.728) at Marquette.

• The Golden Eagles are 63-3 under Coach Duffy when leading at halftime and 46-5 when they turn the ball over the same or fewer times than their opponent.

• MU is 42-4 when scoring more than 70 points under Coach Duffy and 50-5 when shooting more free throws than its opponent.

• In the 103 games of the Coach Duffy era, the Golden Eagles have out-rebounded their opponent 85 times.

NKUMU HONORED BY BIG EAST

• Following a strong individual performance last week in the team's win over Butler, Jordan King was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

• The junior guard led all scorers in the contest, finishing with 15 points on an efficient 7-for-8 shooting performance from the floor.

• She also chipped in three steals, two rebounds and an assist.

• This was the first BIG EAST weekly honor of Nkumu's career.

ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR KING

• Recording her 400th career assist during Sunday's win over Butler, Jordan King became just the eighth player in Marquette women's basketball program history to record 1,000 points and 400 assists in a career.

• King hit the 1,000 point milestone earlier this season on Dec. 4 at Seton Hall.

• She currently ranks 31st in MU scoring history with 1,050 points and 10th in assists with 401.

• Additionally, King is one of just 29 active players in Division I women's basketball with 1,000 career points and 400 career assists.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE

• The Al McGuire Center has gained a reputation as one of the most difficult places to play not just in the BIG EAST, but in the nation in recent years.

• The Golden Eagles are a perfect 6-0 at home this season, and have won 24 of their past 27 games in the Al. Under Coach Duffy, MU has a 40-8 home record.

• No visiting team has scored more than 55 points in Milwaukee this season, while Marquette has outscored opponents a combined 450-288 (75.0-48.0) at home.

OFF TO A STRONG START

• With a 9-2 overall record this season, the Golden Eagles are off to their best start to a year in over a decade.

• The last time a MU team started 9-2 or better was back in 2006-07.

• Only three teams in program history (1997-98, 2005-06, 2006-07) have started a season better than 9-2.

LAST TIME OUT

• Marquette earned a dominant victory at the Al McGuire Center on Saturday, taking down Loyola Chicago 77-53.

• Against the Ramblers, MU used a career-high 30 points from senior guard Jordan King and a season-best team shooting performance of 53.7 percent (36-of-67) from the floor. Freshman guard Emily La Chapell also had a career-scoring high, finishing the game with 12 points to go along with six rebounds off the bench.

• After a fairly even first-half, the Golden Eagles used a 46-25 second half to pull away and secure the victory to remain perfect at home.

UP NEXT FOR MU

• The Golden Eagles return to BIG EAST play after the Christmas holiday as they remain at home to host Villanova on Wednesday, Dec. 28, at 7 p.m. CT.

• The game will be broadcast by BIG EAST Digital Network on FloHoops, with links to the stream and live stats available on GoMarquette.com.