Feb. 10, 2009

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The Marquette University women's basketball team used a second half surge to take a streaking Villanova team down to the wire Tuesday, but the visiting Wildcats prevailed to win their sixth straight and escaped the Al McGuire Center with a 46-45 victory.

Early miscues and the inability to capitalize down the stretch ultimately cost the Golden Eagles, who outscored Villanova 13-1 in the final five minutes of regulation.

With a chance to tie or take the lead in each of its last two possessions, Angel Robinson misfired on MU's last three shot attempts of the evening, including a running jumper at the buzzer that would have given the Golden Eagles the win -- and their first lead since the opening minutes of the contest.

Villanova (16-8, 8-2 BIG EAST) was paced by 17 points by Laura Kurz and 10 points by Lisa Karcic. The Wildcat duo combined for 18 of the team's 22 points in the first half, while Marquette settled for just eight field goals and one trip to the foul line in the first stanza.

Karcic had the hot hand early, scoring all 10 of her points in the first 14 minutes following the opening tip-off. She capped off a 6-0 Villanova run with her final bucket to extend the Wildcat's lead to 18-10 at the 6:02 mark in the first half.

Marquette (13-11, 4-6 BIG EAST) was able to pull back to within four after back-to-back 3-pointers by Erin Monfre and Krystal Ellis, respectively, made it 22-18 at the intermission.

Maria Getty rattled off a couple of quick baskets and a 3-pointer by Tia Grant extended Villanova's lead to double digits, 35-24. MU then scored five unanswered points to get within 35-29, and a 3-pointer by Monfre rimmed out that would have brought the Golden Eagles to within three.

Instead, the Wildcats re-gained the momentum with a 7-0 run to take their largest margin of the night, 42-29.

Robinson, who came in averaging a team-high 14.0 points per game, was sidelined for most of the first half due to an eye injury and early foul trouble. But Robinson wouldn't be silenced for long. She was responsible for over half of Marquette's second-half scoring -- tallying 14 points in the final 20 minutes of action -- including six straight points down the stretch.

With the score 46-44,  Jessica Pachko drew a foul with three seconds remaining on the game clock. Pachko, who finished with a Marquette-high 16 points and seven rebounds, missed the first of two free throw attempts.

Villanova was charged with a turnover on the ensuing possession, however, as the inbound pass was taken by a Wildcats player whose foot was determined to be on the sideline, allowing Marquette one last shot. But Robinson's desperation jumper did not fall.

Villanova shot 38.3 percent for the game and was 4-of-18 (22.2 percent) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles were 2-of-11 from 3-point range and shot just 33.3 percent overall.

Marquette's next game will be Feb. 15 when the Golden Eagles host West Virginia in a nationally televised contest to be broadcast on ESPNU. Tip off against the Mountaineers is slated for 1 p.m. at the Al McGuire Center.