The Ellis/Quaye Show
What's going right?
Sophomore guard Krystal Ellis and senior forward Christina Quaye have carried the scoring load for the Golden Eagles this season. That's not really a surprise to most of the team's followers, and it has been a vital aspect to the team's success. Ellis and Quaye have averaged 19.1 and 15.7 points per game, respectively, though it has been the pair's performances in close games that have been most notable. In the squad's overtime loss at Pittsburgh, Quaye scored 29 points, while Ellis added 27 despite leaving the game with an ankle injury for a period during the second half.
Can they keep it up?
Quaye arguably has been Marquette's most consistent player since she made her way into the rotation as a freshman in 2003-'04. Ellis came on strong in the second half of last season and has yet to let up. Outside of injury, there is no reason why these two will not continue to lead the way.
The Ellis/Quaye Show (part II)
What needs to change?
The downside to having two players shouldering so much of the load on the offensive end is that sometimes two is not enough. Several players have shown the ability to be offensive contributors (seniors Danielle Kamm and Jasmine McCullough) but have been inconsistent. Ellis and Quaye are an effective duo, but if Marquette wants to prove it belongs on the national stage, the other starters will need to show up on a nightly basis.
Can it be fixed?
Absolutely. Far and away, Kamm has the most pure shot on the team and has proven that she can score in the double digits on several occasions. The energy McCullough brings on defense has carried over to the other end of the court from time to time.
Show Stoppers
What's going right?
Ellis may be the team's leader in steals (44), but the Golden Eagles' defensive exclamation points come off the bench. Reserve forwards Svetlana Kovalenko and Kelly Lam lead the team in blocks with 12 and 10, respectively. Kovalenko has been Marquette's spark plug since the middle of last season and has continued to prove that she will scrap, claw and dive for any ball within her vicinity. Lam sat out last season after transferring from Oklahoma, one of the top programs in the country. With these two providing defensive depth, the starters can take a breather without worrying whether the lead they built will diminish.
Can they keep it up?
Kovalenko averages 17.8 minutes per game, and you can look for that number to increase as the team prepares for the season's stretch run. The only worry is that her inspiring energy will wear down as the season continues. As for Lam, her defensive production likely will remain steady, if not increase. She sees considerably less playing time than Kovalenko, so fatigue will not be an issue.
Get A Handle On It
What needs to change?
Yes, the Golden Eagles force more turnovers than they give up, and yes, the team dishes out assists more often than they turn the ball over. But not by much. Marquette's turnover margin is +1.7, meaning that, on average, the team creates 1.7 more turnovers than it allows. It's not as if Marquette suffers from a propensity to losing control of the ball; it's that the team can't seem to create enough defensive pressure to create an advantage for itself.
Can it be fixed?
The team has its share of high-energy players (McCullough, Kovalenko), but getting that energy to convert into consistent production on both ends of the floor has been the struggle. Look for the turnover margin to hold steady, which means you also can look forward to many tight games for the Golden Eagles down the stretch.
Clearing Space
What's going right?
Though it has not ranked in the upper-echelon of conference standings, Marquette's team rebounding has been above average and good enough to become a reliable strength for the squad. The Golden Eagles rank a distant fourth in conference rebounding margin (+6.7). The squad is wrought with experienced post players, a depth that has made up for the lack of one dominant rebounder. The Golden Eagles' individual rebounding stat lines in box scores often won't look that impressive, but the team routinely out-rebounds its opponent. That's all that really matters.
Can they keep it up?
Marquette features six capable post players in seniors Christina Quaye, Jasmine McCullough and Danielle Kamm, junior Svetlana Kovalenko and sophomores Kelly Lam and Marissa Thrower. Quaye leads the group, averaging 6.4 rebounds per contest, but all of them know their way around the paint. At the end of the year, rebounding may not be the team's highest mark, but it certainly won't be a reason for whatever downfalls Marquette may suffer.