The women's basketball team's bid for a second consecutive WNIT title hits the road tonight as the Golden Eagles (17-15) travel to Illinois State to take on the Redbirds (25-7). Marquette defeated Butler 58-49 Monday to advance to the third round.

"The challenge is being on the road in front of a great crowd," coach Terri Mitchell said. "I think we have to not get swept away by the crowd, quite honestly, and if we're on the same page and we play our kind of game and they let us play physical I think we'll be in good shape."

Illinois State had a first-round bye, just like Marquette, and defeated Louisiana Tech 73-59 Tuesday night to advance to the third round.

Going on the road in the postseason is nothing new to Marquette, which won three consecutive road games last season to claim the title.

"This is what we did last year, they know what it takes to win," Mitchell said. "There's only three people that weren't part of that experience last year. We keep looking at that banner and say 'Let's add another one.' "

Illinois State won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season, but lost to Evansville in the first round of its conference tournament. The Redbirds' offense boasts five players who average at least nine points, but there is no question that senior Kristi Cirone is the biggest threat at 18.6 points per game.

"Cirone is a great point guard, we've got to contain her," Mitchell said. "Nicolle Lewis, a local product, is playing just great basketball for them inside. I think any coach this time of year will tell you if you control the boards, you'll have a better chance of winning the game."

Cirone scored 22 points against Louisiana Tech, and Lewis had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Maggie Krick also chipped in a season-high 25 points for the Redbirds.

Marquette has only two players this season averaging over nine points, senior Krystal Ellis and sophomore Angel Robinson, but the Golden Eagles used a balanced attack Monday night to defeat Butler.

Ellis had a solid game, finishing with 11 points, while junior Lauren Thomas-Johnson came out of a slump to score 11 points, and senior Marissa Thrower had a season-high 10 points.

"Well I just told myself this could have been my last game," Thrower said. "I just put it all out on the court and I guess I came up with those numbers."

While many of the Marquette players have been through the postseason grind before, some have not, including Thomas-Johnson, who Mitchell calls an "x-factor" for the Golden Eagles.

"I'm just a lot more focused I think, because obviously this season was a little shaky," Thomas-Johnson said. "It's like, go hard or go home, and we really don't want to go home."

One big advantage Marquette may have going into tonight's game is the fact that it has played against some of the best competition in the country all year long.

"We are battle-tested," Mitchell said. "The Big East prepares you for anything you're going to see."