WBB Stays Perfect, Beats Creighton Wednesday Night in BIG EAST Opener

MILWAUKEE – The No. 19/19 Marquette women's basketball team started off BIG EAST play with a 76-70 win over No. 20/20 Creighton Wednesday night to stay perfect on the season.

Marquette (10-0, 1-0 BIG EAST) shot 51.8 percent from the floor, the seventh time in ten games MU has shot 50 percent or better. The Golden Eagles were led by Liza Karlen who had her second double-double of the season with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Four Golden Eagles scored in double figures, including Mackenzie Hare who had 15 points with a career-high seven made free throws.

It was a 66-66 game with 3:31 to go in the fourth quarter before MU went on a 10-4 run the rest of the way to get the victory. Seniors Liza Karlen, Jordan King, and Rose Nkumu combined for 17 of MU's 22 points in the final ten minutes.

The Golden Eagles shot 72.7 percent from the field in the fourth quarter, a season-best percentage in the final quarter.

Creighton (7-2, 0-1 BIG EAST) was led by Emma Ronsiek who had a season-high 29 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Molly Mogensen added 21 points and was 3-of-5 from deep.

NOTABLES:

Golden Eagles are off to the best start in program history (10-0).
Marquette is 5-0 in BIG EAST home openers under Megan Duffy.
Golden Eagles improve to 2-0 over ranked teams this season. MU beat then No. 23 Illinois, 71-67, on Nov. 11, 2023.
Liza Karlen led the team in scoring for the fifth time this season and finished with a season-high 25 points and 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the season and 15th of her career.
Mackenzie Hare had 15 points on 3-of-3 shooting and had career-highs in free throws made (7) and free throw attempts (10).
Marquette took a season-low seven 3-point attempts and were 4-of-7 from deep (57.1 percent).
The Golden Eagles had a season low eight turnovers and outscored Creighton on the fast break 17-3.
Marquette had 21 assists on 29 baskets, the sixth time in 10 games MU registered over 20 assists.
The Golden Eagles were a perfect 3-of-3 from downtown in the first quarter, first time this season shooting 100% from deep in a quarter.
Second time being tied at halftime this season. MU was tied at the half at Illinois State, 34-34, and have yet to trail at the half this season.
First time this season an MU opponent has scored over 70 points.
MU has outrebounded its opponent in every game this season. Golden Eagles are first in the BIG EAST in rebound margin (+7.7).
Frannie Hottinger, Skylar Forbes, and Lee Volker all made their BIG EAST debuts Wednesday night.

UP NEXT:

Marquette stays home to host Appalachian State on Sunday, Dec. 17. Tipoff from the Al McGuire Center is at 2 p.m. Central time.

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).