WBB Opens Season with 84-51 Win Over UT Martin

BOX SCORE (PDF)

Milwaukee – The Marquette University women's basketball team opened its 2023-24 campaign with an 84-51 win over UT Martin Monday afternoon at the Al McGuire Center.

In front of 3,000 Milwaukee Public School kids, the Golden Eagles (1-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) put on an offensive show with six players scoring in double figures, led by Mackenzie Hare with 17 points.

Marquette got off to a strong start thanks to Hare who had eight of the first ten MU points in her first career start. It was 12-9 at the halfway mark of the first quarter, then MU went on a 14-4 run over last five minutes to take a 26-13 lead. MU shot 64% from the field in the first ten minutes of play (9-14 FG), their highest shooting percentage in the first quarter since Feb. 27, 2023 against DePaul (66.7%).

Rose Nkumu took over the second quarter, scoring seven of her 12 points for the game while also adding two assists before halftime. The senior recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 10 assists.

Seniors Jordan King (14) and Liza Karlen (10) each scored in double figures for the 70th and 36th time in their career, respectively. Karlen pulled down 10 rebounds for her 14th career double-double.

A handful of newcomers saw their first minutes in the Blue and Gold, including Frannie Hottinger, who earned the start. Lee Volker had a collegiate career-high 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Her five made field goals tied her collegiate career-high.

MU forced 23 turnovers and outscored UT Martin on fast break points, 29-2. The Golden Eagles finished the game shooting 57% from the floor, outscoring the Skyhawks 23-8 in the fourth quarter.

UT Martin (0-1, 0-0 OVC) was led by Kenley McCarn (15 points) and Anaya Brown (14 points).

Notables:

Megan Duffy is now 5-0 in season openers at Marquette.
Five new Golden Eagles registered their first minutes for the Blue and Gold (Frannie Hottinger, Lee Volker, Abbey Cracknell, Bridget Utberg and Skylar Forbes).
Marquette forced 23 turnovers and outscored UT Martin in fast break points, 29-2.
Six players scored in double figures for the first time since Feb. 27, 2023 in a win against DePaul.
Skylar Forbes, in her collegiate debut, finished second on the team with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
Rose Nkumu scored in double figures for the third time in her career. The senior finished with 12 points and 10 assists, a new career-high, for her first career double-double. She also had a career-high four blocks, three steals and four charges drawn.
Marquette shot over 50% from the floor (51.7%) for the first time since Feb. 27, 2023 in a win against DePaul.
Mackenzie Hare got her first career start and led the team with 17 points, her 9th career game in double figures and tied her career-high in assists with four.
With the win, Marquette is now 1-0 all time against UT Martin and 6-1 all time against Ohio Valley Conference opponents.
Marquette had 24 assists on 31 made baskets.

UP NEXT:
Marquette returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. CT against nationally ranked Illinois inside the Al McGuire Center.

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