The Golden Eagles took control with a 14-0 run to end the first quarter.
For about three-ish minutes to start Thursday night’s game at the McGuire Center, it was just a back-and-forth basketball game, one you see at the start of hundreds of games across the country. It was 5-4 Marquette after a bucket from Xavier’s Lucia Martinez Lopez, and arguably, MU was only up because the Musketeers had already turned the ball over four times.
With the clock showing 6:00 left in the first quarter, Halle Vice scored off a pass from Jaidynn Mason, and that was the beginning of the end for Xavier on this night. XU would not score again in the quarter, and Vice’s bucket triggered a 14-0 run to end the frame. Olivia Porter opened up the scoring in the second quarter with a three-pointer as the Golden Eagles tacked on another seven points to their run.
21-0 in eight minutes of basketball, Marquette up 26-4.
The first half lead peaked with 2:03 left before intermission when a three-pointer from Skylar Forbes moved the scoreboard to 31-9.
Xavier outscored MU 15-14 in the third but the Golden Eagles still nudged the margin to 22 points early in the frame. Marquette recorded their largest lead of the game with just over four minutes left, as a second chance layup from Kennedi Perkins made it a 29 point game, 62-33. FUN FACT: MU wouldn’t score again and still won by 25.
Lee Volker got to a game high 15 points on her Senior Night, although she tied Skylar Forbes for that honor. Halle Vice was MU’s only other double-digit scorer, finishing with 12 points. Forbes led everyone with eight rebounds, while Jaidynn Mason and Kennedi Perkins each dished out four assists as MU had 12 helpers on 20 made buckets.
Up Next: Marquette moves to 12-5 in Big East play with the win, but they might have to settle for 12 league wins this season. They’ll wrap up the regular season on Sunday when they visit #5 UConn. Tipoff is set for 1pm Central, and FS1 will have the broadcast. The Huskies clinched the outright Big East regular season title on Thursday night, but I don’t think they’ll take it easy on Sunday, not on Senior Day for Paige Bueckers.