Dec. 20, 2008

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MILWAUKEE -- Coming off an impressive 30-point victory over Oregon earlier in the week, Marquette struggled to find its rhythm Saturday in falling to UW-Green Bay, 68-56, in non-conference women's basketball action from the Al McGuire Center.

UWGB primarily used a suffocating 2-3 zone defense to force 26 turnovers and to hold Marquette to 33.3 percent shooting (10-of-30) in the second half. All-America candidate Krystal Ellis, who did not attempt a shot in the first 24 minutes, finished with just eight points.

A three-pointer by Angel Robinson at the 17:25 mark in the first half gave the Golden Eagles (8-4) their largest lead of the game at 13-9. But MU went on to miss its next 11 shots from beyond the arc in trying to keep pace with the Phoenix (8-2).

Sophomore forward Paige Fiedorowicz posted a team-high 13 points. Her basket with 5:32 remaining in the first half capped off a 6-0 run by MU, knotting the score at 22-22, but the Golden Eagles missed their next 12 shots from the field before freshman forward Jessica Pachko made a layup six minutes into the second stanza.

Pachko was the only other MU player to score in double-figures, chipping in 10 points. Including fellow forwards Marissa Thrower and Georgie Jones, the Golden Eagles' post players went a combined 10-of-13 from the field. However, MU couldn't give up its open looks from the perimeter despite a 5-of-24 (20.8 percent) effort from the outside.

Jones and Thrower also finished with four and three blocked shots, respectively, and scored four points apiece.

A jumper by Rachel Porath with 6:01 remaining gave UWGB its largest lead of the game, a 14-point advantage at 52-38. Pachko breathed some life into her teammates and brought the home fans to their feet following a three-point play moments later to close the gap to seven points, 52-45.

But Porath, who finished with a game-high 19 points, connected on her third three-pointer of the contest at the 2:40 mark to help put the game away for the Phoenix, who went 15-of-17 from the foul line in the second half.

The Golden Eagles forced 25 turnovers of their own, but were out-rebounded by margin of 33-24, while UWGB shot a scorching 47.9 percent from the floor and knocked down six three-pointers.

Marquette will now have a seven-day layoff to right the ship before returning to action on Dec. 28 when the Golden Eagles travel to Oakland.