"Get her, E! Get her, E! Get her, E!" McCullough implored as Osagie-Landry applied full-court pressure on Notre Dame guard Melissa Lechlitner with just over nine minutes remaining in the game.,”

With one eye on the player she was guarding and one eye on the best defensive player on the court Tuesday night, senior forward Jasmine McCullough was in an ideal position to watch senior forward Efueko Osagie-Landry go to work.

"Get her, E! Get her, E! Get her, E!" McCullough implored as Osagie-Landry applied full-court pressure on Notre Dame guard Melissa Lechlitner with just over nine minutes remaining in the game.

Osagie-Landry harassed the Fighting Irish all game long, pestering ball-handlers and shooters indiscriminately. She finished the contest with four steals and a key second-half block.

"It's time we started taking some pride on the defensive end," head coach Terri Mitchell said. "I felt we were all over the court, getting back to the old Marquette style tonight."

Leading the effort was Osagie-Landry, who missed all of last season after the birth of her daughter, Moriah. Before the season, Mitchell said what the team would gain most from Osagie-Landry's return was her defensive intensity.

At no point in the season were Mitchell's words more fitting than Tuesday night, when Osagie-Landry opened the game by hitting a jumper and corralling two steals in the first 90 seconds.

Though it was in control for the game's entirety, Marquette struggled to create separation from the Fighting Irish on the scoreboard. But whenever Notre Dame would creep within striking distance of the lead, Osagie-Landry came up with a play on defense that propelled an offensive run by the Golden Eagles.

"The flow of the game started with our defense," Mitchell said. "Tonight, our defense created our offense."

And Osagie-Landry played a large role in creating Marquette's defense. She started her third consecutive game and played 26 minutes, the third time in four games she recorded 25 or more minutes of action.

"I worked very hard in the offseason to get my conditioning back," Osagie-Landry said. "I've noticed the changes, like being able to pick up the ball (on defense) like I did before."

With the Fighting Irish closing in on a four-point Marquette lead midway through the second half, Lechlitner attempted a three-point shot from the top of the key only to watch Osagie-Landry stuff the ball back in her face. Osagie-Landry gained control of the ball, surged downcourt and converted the layup.

As time wound down, it was only fitting that Osagie-Landry be the Golden Eagle to score Marquette's final points, converting two free-throws after the Fighting Irish began hacking at every blue and gold jersey that moved.

"It's more of a determination thing," Osagie-Landry said. "It's time for us to get things done."

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