Tori Schickel looks for an open move during a game this season. Schickel scored 19 points as the women’s basketball team upset No. 11 Marquette on the road on Feb. 22. Jimmy Lafakis/Collegian file photo.
DREW FAVAKEH | STAFF REPORTER | dfavakeh@butler.edu
In one of the biggest wins in program history, the Butler women’s basketball team upset No. 11 Marquette, 61-57, in Milwaukee on Feb. 22.
The Bulldogs had four players reach double-digit point totals as they picked up their 20th win of the season and 10th win in Big East play. With three games remaining before the conference tournament, the Bulldogs are now 20-6 overall and 10-5 in the Big East following a victory which certainly strengthened their NCAA Tournament resume.
Tori Schickel was Butler’s offensive star of the game, scoring 19 points and grabbing five of her seven total rebounds on the Bulldogs’ missed shots. Schickel played an integral role in Butler’s 32 total points in the paint.
Whitney Jennings had 13 points, Michelle Weaver scored 12 points, and Kristen Spolyar tallied 11 points. Notably, Shae Brey snagged 10 rebounds.
It wasn’t Butler’s offense, though, that led to Marquette’s second loss in conference play, but rather, its defense.
The Bulldogs limited Marquette’s two scoring guards significantly. Natisha Hiedeman, who leads the Golden Eagles in points per game, was held to three points on 1-of-13 shooting. Hiedeman was defended by Michelle Weaver, whose defense has been noteworthy all season.
While Marquette’s Allazia Blockton nearly reached her average, scoring 14 points, it was on 6-of-14 shooting. Beyond that, Amani Wilbon and Erika Davenport, who both hover around 12 points per game, combined to score only 15 points.
Overall, Butler held Marquette to 32.3 percent from the field, including just 18.75 percent in the second half.
After the first quarter, the two teams were knotted up at 19-19. Marquette hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter, but they made just two threes the remainder of the game.
The two teams traded baskets early in the second quarter to tie the score at 23. Marquette went on a mini 6-0 run to gain the lead and went into halftime with a 34-30 advantage.
Butler started the third quarter off strong, as Jennings knocked in a triple, yet Marquette came away with a 49-43 lead by the end of the frame.
The Bulldogs then went on a crucial 9-0 run in the fourth quarter. Jennings hit a pair of free throws, Spolyar scored a jumper in fast break and added a 3-pointer, and then Tori Schickel hit a layup to push Butler’s lead to 52-51, their first lead since the first quarter.
The Golden Eagles tied the game at 57 before Weaver knocked in a 3-pointer and Schickel had another layup. Jennings sealed the game with two clutch free throws.
Butler’s next game is against DePaul on Sunday, Feb. 24, at Wintrust Arena, which will eventually host the Bulldogs in the Big East Tournament.
