March 30, 2006

MILWAUKEE -

Send-off Photo Gallery

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

The Marquette women's basketball team will look to win its first-ever postseason championship when they take on Kansas State in the Women's National Invitational Tournament Championship game on Friday, March 31 at Manhattan, Kan. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be televised locally in Milwaukee on WMLW Ch. 41.

"I can't express enough how excited we are to be playing deep into March and To be playing in the championship game," head coach Terri Mitchell said. "We are gaining tons of experience and having a blast while doing it. We have lot of heart, and right now we have the depth we need and we are just enjoying it. This is fun. Seniors are ending their career on a great note, they are ending their careers in a championship game."

Marquette advanced to the championship game with a 13-point win over BIG EAST Conference foe, 77-64, at the Al McGuire Center on Monday. Marquette was led by Krystal Ellis who had 18 points, while junior Danielle Kamm registered her second double double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Svetlana Kovalenko had a career night with 16 points in the effort on 6-of-9 shooting.

"Playing in the WNIT has allowed our seniors to continue their careers, while also giving our newcomers the opportunity playing deep into the postseason," said Mitchell.

For MU's three seniors Carolyn Kieger, Amber Johnson and Tierra Shirley, they will end their careers at Marquette playing for a championship, something few can say.

"We made the best of every game this season," said Kieger. "For us seniors, we couldn't ask for anything better than to end our careers playing for a championship."

The Golden Eagles have played three of its four WNIT games at home at the Al McGuire Center and will play at the Bramlage Coliseum for their second road game of the tournament. Marquette played its lone road contest of the tournament at Iowa State and defeated the Cyclones, 69-63 in overtime.

The first three opponents for Marquette in WNIT play have been from the Big Ten (Illinois, Indiana) and the Big 12 (Iowa State). The Golden Eagle faced a familiar BIG EAST foe, Pittsburgh, in the semifinals, and the Golden Eagles will complete their season against another BIG 12 Conference team, Kansas State.

Christina Quaye and freshman Krystal Ellis who have led the Golden Eagles all season in scoring, have averaged double figures in the post season with 11 points and 17.5 points apiece, respectively, The Golden Eagles have shot well in the tournament connecting on 41.4 percent of their attempts from the field. Defensively, in its four WNIT games, Marquette has held its opponents to 37.8 percent shooting from the floor - including just 20.9 percent from the perimeter, while outrebounding foes by 6.5 boards per game.

This will be the first-ever match-up between the two schools. Kansas State is 23-10 on the season, including 13-5 at home. The Wildcats boast three starters who average double figures All-BIG 12 Second Team Selection Claire Coggins (13.7 ppg), Kimberley Dietz (10.2 ppg) and JoAnn Hamlin (10.1 ppg). BIG 12 All-Rookie Selection, Marlies Gipson leads the Wildcats on the glass with 6.5 rebounds per game.

"They are a great team," added Kieger. "We know they are going to go out there and give it their all, but so are we. We just need to keep playing team ball, and that is the key. We all have the same motive - we are just trying to win a championship."