WBB Returns Home To Take on Providence Saturday

MILWAUKEE — The Marquette women's basketball team (10-6, 3-4 BIG EAST) returns home following a three-game road trip this weekend as it plays host to Providence (11-7, 2-5 BIG EAST) on Saturday, Jan. 14. The Golden Eagles and the Friars will tip-off at 2 p.m. (CT) from the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee. The game will be broadcast by BIG EAST Digital Network on FloHoops with Bob Brainerd (play-by-play) and Michelle Griffin-Wenzel (analyst) on the call. Live stream and stat links are available on GoMarquette.com.

In the team's most recent outing on Sunday, Marquette suffered a 42-68 road loss at No. 25 Creighton at DJ Sokol Arena in Omaha. Despite a combined 33 points from the senior duo of Chloe Marotta and Jordan King, the Golden Eagles struggled to find any offensive rhythm as they were held to just 33.3 percent (19-of-57) shooting from the floor.

The Friars enter the contest holding an 11-7 overall record and a 2-5 start to BIG EAST play. The Friars have won two of their past three games, with wins at Creighton and vs Xavier. They are 3-5 away from home this season, and most recently posted a 64-50 home win over Xavier on Wednesday afternoon.

Providence is led statistically this year by guard Janai Crooms, a senior who is averaging team-best marks of 12.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. The Friars are coached by Jim Crowley, in his seventh season at the helm of the program.

Saturday's game will be the 29th all-time between Marquette and Providence, a series which dates back to 2006. The Golden Eagles have dominated the series 23-5, including wins in 11-straight. Last season, MU won in Milwaukee 61-59 before earning a 57-51 road victory in Providence.

SCOUTING THE FRIARS

• Providence enters Saturday's contest with an 11-7 overall record and a 2-5 start to BIG EAST play, having won two of its past three games.

• In 2021-22 the Friars had an 11-19 campaign including a 6-14 mark in league play to finish eighth in the BIG EAST.

• Providence is 2-5 away from home this season.

• The team has been led statistically by guard Janai Crooms, a senior who is averaging team-best marks of 12.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Sophomore forward Olivia Olsen averages 11.9 points and 6.8 boards per outing.

• As a team, Providence ranks second in the league in both rebound margin (+6.0) and defensive rebounds per game (28.5). It is averaging 64.4 points, while allowing 61.4 points per game.

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST PROVIDENCE

• Saturday's meeting will be the 29th all-time between Marquette and Providence, a series which began in 2006.

• Marquette has dominated the all-time series 23-5 with wins in each of the past 11 games.

• Last season MU swept the series against the Friars, posting a 61-59 win in Milwaukee before winning 57-51 in Providence.

Last 5 Meetings

DATE LOCATION RESULT SCORE

2/25/22 A W 57-51

2/4/22 H W 61-59

3/6/21 N W 68-43

2/13/21 A W 73-52

12/4/20 H W 89-40

STARTING FIVE

• The Golden Eagles are 43-20 against BIG EAST opponents under Coach Duffy.

• Coach Duffy is off to the best coaching start through four seasons of any coach in program history. She boasts a 76-32 overall mark (.704) at Marquette.

• The Golden Eagles are 64-3 under Coach Duffy when leading at halftime and 47-7 when they turn the ball over the same or fewer times than their opponent.

• MU is 43-4 when scoring more than 70 points under Coach Duffy and 50-5 when shooting more free throws than its opponent.

• In the 108 games of the Coach Duffy era, the Golden Eagles have out-rebounded their opponent 86 times.

WE BACK PAT

• Saturday's contest will be Marquette's "We Back Pat" game, an annual game played in memory of Hall of Fame basketball coach Pat Summitt to raise awareness for Alzheimer's disease.

• The aim of the We Back Pat foundation is to fund research to treat, prevent, cure and ultimately eradicate Alzheimer's disease. Teams across the country participate in We Back Pat games to help bring attention to the foundation and its cause.

• Marquette players will wear purple warmups, and encourage fans in attendance to wear purple as well.

MAROTTA NAMED TO WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

• Following her strong performance in a pair of road games last week, Marquette's Chloe Marotta was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

• The senior forward averaged 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, while playing 79 of a possible 80 minutes on the week.

• In the team's win over DePaul, she went for 18 points, nine boards and a career-high three blocks.

• At No. 25 Creighton, she scored a game-high 20 points to go along with five boards.

LAST TIME OUT

• Marquette fell in the final game of a three-game road trip, dropping a 68-42 game at No. 25 Creighton on Sunday afternoon.

• In what was its lowest-scoring outing of the season, Marquette struggled to find an offensive rhythm and was held to just 33.3 percent (19-of-57) shooting in the contest. MU trailed 35-14 at the half.

• Despite being outscored by just five points in a competitive second half, the Golden Eagles were unable to make up any ground as CU shot 55.6 percent (15-of-27) in the second half.

• The senior duo of Chloe Marotta and Jordan King combined to score 33 of Marquette's 42 points, led by Marotta's game-high 20. Claire Kaifes led the team with six rebounds in what was the second start of her career.

MAROTTA MAKING HISTORY

• In her fifth and final season as a Golden Eagle, senior forward Chloe Marotta continues to etch her name in the record book in several statistical categories.

• Saturday's game will mark her 134th career appearance for MU, as she moves into a tie with Angel Robinson (2007-11) for second in program history. The only player who has appeared in more games is her former teammate Lauren Van Kleunen, who played 160.

• Additionally, Marotta ranks 12th in career rebounds with 750 and is just 18 from moving into the top 10.

UP NEXT FOR MU

• The Golden Eagles head back on the road next week to Queens to face St. John's on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 6 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.