Of Friars and donuts

The women's basketball team travels to Providence Saturday to take on the Friars. While this year's Providence (12-5, 2-2 Big East) squad is better than the dreadful bunch that was assembled last season, Marquette (16-2, 4-1) is the No. 19 team in the country for a reason. With sophomore guard Krystal Ellis averaging 19.1 points per game and senior forward Christina Quaye coming off a week in which she was named to the Big East honor roll, the Golden Eagles likely will have enough sheer talent to prevail. On a side note, the Friars play their home games in the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Seriously. That's what it's called. Anyone else think that's a tad ironic?

Women's tennis inks two recruits

The women's tennis team on Tuesday signed two recruits to national letters of intent. Christina Ruiz, from Northville, Mich., won the Michigan State High School Division I Singles Championship in addition to receiving all-region and all-state honors three times. Rachael Hush, of Wichita, Kan., a three-time all-state selection in high school, was ranked as high as No. 48 nationally in Girls 16s singles by the U.S. Tennis Association.

Start them up

The men's and women's tennis teams kick off their respective seasons Saturday. The men are on the road at Michigan, while the women open the 2007 campaign at home against Illinois . The track and field team will be in Ames, Iowa, competing in the Iowa State Open Friday and Saturday. Marquette already has qualified in 20 events for the Big East Indoor Championships.