Marquette Wire

Dayton’s turnovers, Hiedeman’s career-high help Marquette rout Dayton in first round of NCAA Tournament

John Steppe, Assistant Sports Editor • March 16, 2018

The Marquette Golden Eagles started their first-round NCAA Tournament matchup with Dayton in the same uninspired way last year's loss to Quinnipiac began. Hardly anything was falling. The team missed nine...

Dayton’s JaVonna Layfield could be menace against Marquette

John Steppe, Assistant Sports Editor • March 16, 2018

At first glance, Dayton senior JaVonna Layfield would hardly seem like an elite rebounder. She’s shorter than her head coach and, at 5-foot-11, would be the eighth tallest player on Marquette’s roster. “We just measured ourselves in the hallway, and I am taller than her,” Dayton head coach Shauna Green said Thursday. “I’m six feet, so she’s under my size.”

Dayton’s pace provides threat for Marquette entering NCAA Tournament

John Steppe, Assistant Sports Editor • March 16, 2018

One sequence kept repeating itself throughout Marquette's BIG EAST title season: A Marquette opponent would make a predictable pass, and a Golden Eagle defender would jump the passing lane to steal the...

Prior NCAA experience gives Marquette sense of chemistry entering tournament

John Steppe, Assistant Sports Editor • March 15, 2018

As Marquette women’s basketball jogged onto the court of the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, the team acted almost like any other game. “Once you found out where you’re playing, you know, another game that you prepare for and you get focused for, then (any nerves) just goes out the windows,” shooting guard Allazia Blockton said.

FLOOR SLAPS: Marquette survives NIT scare thanks to free throws

Brendan Ploen, Assistant Sports Editor • March 14, 2018

Marquette survived a late comeback from the Harvard Crimson in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament and came away with a 67-60 victory. It was Marquette's first NIT victory since the 2004...

Golden Eagles survive late Harvard comeback, prevail in opening NIT game

John Steppe, Assistant Sports Editor • March 14, 2018

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, it appeared as though Marquette would walk away with an easy first round victory in the National Invitation Tournament. The Golden Eagles had a 46-32 lead and leading scorer Markus Howard was on fire from deep. Then Harvard’s offense came alive, scoring more points in the fourth quarter than previous two quarters combined. Marquette had a 19-point lead at one point in the quarter, but the Crimson cut Marquette's once insurmountable lead to five with 11 seconds left on a 3-pointer from Rio Haskett.

PREVIEW: Four things to know before Marquette takes on Harvard

Andrew Goldstein, Sports Content Executive • March 14, 2018

The beginning of postseason tournaments means trading the familiarity of conference play for more obscure opponents. Marquette’s first NIT game against the Harvard Crimson is a good example. It took nearly 101 full basketball seasons for the Golden Eagles and the Crimson to play their first game against each other.

Women’s basketball to face Dayton in NCAA Tournament

Andrew Goldstein and John Steppe • March 12, 2018

The Golden Eagles (23-9, 15-3 BIG EAST) received a No. 8 seed and will travel to Louisville for their first round game against the No. 9-seeded Dayton Flyers (23-6, 15-1 Atlantic 10). Dayton had just one conference loss and did not lose a game between Dec. 21 and Feb. 21. The Flyers are appearing in their eighth NCAA Tournament in the last nine years.

Marquette hopes to gain valuable experience in first NIT bid since 2005

John Steppe, Assistant Sports Editor • March 11, 2018

Marquette’s Sunday afternoon was hardly ideal. The Golden Eagles missed their fourth NCAA Tournament in the last five years after previously appearing in eight consecutive NCAA Tournaments. “I felt we had done enough to make it, but it didn’t happen,” sophomore guard Markus Howard said. “Today was kind of just a mix of emotions.”

Men’s basketball misses NCAA tournament, will face Harvard in NIT

Andrew Goldstein, Sports Content Executive • March 11, 2018

Marquette men’s basketball did not hear its name called during the Selection Sunday bracket reveal and will miss the NCAA Tournament for the third time in head coach Steve Wojciechowski’s four-year tenure. There will still likely be a postseason for the Golden Eagles in the 32-team National Invitation Tournament (NIT). NYCBuckets, one of the most reliable NIT prognosticators, projects that Marquette will be a No. 1 seed in the consolation tournament. If that happens and the Golden Eagles accept a bid, they’ll host games in the Al McGuire Center on campus until the Final Four, which will be in New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

COLUMN: NIT offers possibility of interesting matchups

Andrew Goldstein, Sports Content Executive • March 11, 2018

Barring an abrupt forfeiture of logic by the NCAA Selection Committee, Marquette will be headed to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). It’s a disappointing end to the season for Golden Eagle fans, who were expecting another trip to March Madness. The NIT isn’t nearly as exciting as the main tournament is; the teams are worse and there’s no national championship at the end of the rainbow. Fans that don’t want to watch the NIT even if their favorite team is in it could hardly be blamed for thinking that way.

Women’s lacrosse falls to No. 9 Northwestern on the road

Meghan Rock, Sports Staff Writer • March 10, 2018

Marquette women's lacrosse (4-4) have made program history by finishing .500 in non-conference play for the first time, but the final game in that span offered reason for concern. The No. 9 Northwestern...