Nov. 26, 2009

CANCUN, Mexico -

Game Notes (PDF)

The Marquette women's basketball team will close out play in the Caribbean Challenge Friday, Nov. 27 against No. 10/12 Duke at 6:30 p.m. at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico.

A live in-game blog will be available courtesy of CoverItLive.com.

Behind a balanced effort that featured four Golden Eagles with 10 or more points, Marquette (4-1) topped Cleveland State, 69-66, in its first game of the tournament.

Senior Janelle Harris poured in 13 points and eight rebounds, while fellow senior Lauren Thomas-Johnson and sophomore Jessica Pachko added 10 and 12 points, respectively. Junior Courtney Weibel had a very productive 16 minutes of action where she was 4-of-7 from the floor including 3-of-6 from long range. Weibel finished the game with a season-high 11 points.

Duke (4-1) easily took care of Western Kentucky, 70-47, in its first game of the Caribbean Challenge Thursday.

Jasmine Thomas, who scored a game-high 20 points in the win over WKU, leads Duke with 14.8 points per game, while Bridgette Mitchell and Joy Cheek are each contributing 11 ppg.

The Golden Eagles' game with No. 10/12 Duke will mark the first nationally ranked team they will play this season. Currently, 12 of Marquette's upcoming opponents are ranked in the top-25 or receiving votes in either national poll.

Marquette is 0-2 against the Blue Devils. Duke took the first meeting on Nov. 29, 1998 in the Ronald McDonald Classic, 60-91, and defeated Marquette, 76-67, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 23, 2004.

Following the Caribbean Challenge, the Golden Eagles will return home to host New Jersey Institute of Technology on Thursday, Dec. 3 at the Al McGuire Center at 7 p.m.