Senior Krystal Ellis led the Golden Eagles with a game-high 25 points, but Erin Monfre stole the show with a career-high 21 points on a program-record seven three-pointers.,”The Marquette women's basketball team won in impressive fashion today as they defeated West Virginia 79-59 at the Al McGuire Center.
Senior Krystal Ellis led the Golden Eagles with a game-high 25 points, but Erin Monfre stole the show with a career-high 21 points on a program-record seven three-pointers. Marquette's fourth annual "Pink Out" game to fight breast cancer had special importance to Monfre after her mother succumbed to the disease nearly a year ago.
"There's no real explanation I can give you other than it was a special day, and you know, you get that extra help from up above and there's nothing you can do but enjoy the moment," Monfre said.
Monfre went 7-of-9 from behind the arc in the game, with six three-pointers coming in the second half as Marquette pulled away.
However, West Virginia kept things interesting early as they closed out the first half with a 7-0 run.
"I thought in the first half, obviously our turnovers kept us from scoring like we wanted to, and we did much better in the second half of getting open, changing speed, using screens," head coach Terri Mitchell said.
In the first twenty minutes of play Marquette shot just 32 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 13 times.
It wasn't just Monfre who caught fire after halftime as Ellis poured in 19 second half points. Today was the first time Ellis eclipsed the 20-point mark since she scored 32 against Kansas on December 7th.
"We're thrilled, and that's the Krystal Ellis we all know what she's capable of and now we gotta' give her the rest and just keep her fresh the rest of the season," Mitchell said.
In the second half Marquette torched the Mountaineers by shooting 53 percent from the field and 69 percent from three-point range.
"We always talk about getting the hot shooter open as much as we can, and today it happened to be me," Monfre said. "People were setting some great screens and everything just fell into place for us."
With the win Marquette improves its record to 14-11 (5-6 Big East). The Golden Eagles' next game is set for Wednesday when they'll travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bearcats.
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