The Lobos (4-5) return to action Wednesday, when they travel to take on a very good Marquette Golden Eagles (8-2) team. It has been a while since the Lobos have played a game, as their scheduled game against Eastern Illinois on Sunday was postponed due to weather. There is question if that game will be able to be made up, since it is getting close to conference play and the players will be able to head home after the game against Marquette. As for this game, this could very well be the best team the Lobos will face this season, as they will be tasked with challenge of stopping a great Marquette offense. It will be very important for the Lobos to take care of the ball and have a great shooting day, which is a possibility, since Marquette isn’t a great defensive team.
Marquette Team Stats:
While I don’t know a couple of stats for Marquette, such as possessions per game and points per possession, we can get the idea that Marquette plays at a quick pace and are very efficient on offense. Marquette will have the edge on offense in this matchup and they shouldn’t be fazed by the pace the Lobos like to play at.
| Golden Eagles | Opponents | |
| Points Per Game | 79.7 | 69.2 |
| Field Goal % | 46.3% (304/656) | 39.8% (249/626) |
| 3 Point % | 31.0% (61/197) | 32.2% (78/242) |
| Free Throw % | 72.3% (128/197) | 77.3% (116/150) |
| Field Goals Per Game | 30.44/65.6 | 25/70.33 |
| 3 Pointers Per Game | 6.1/19.7 | 7.8/24.2 |
| Free Throws Per Game | 12.8/17.7 | 11.6/15 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 41.3, +7.1 | 34.2 |
| Assists Per Game | 18.7 | 15.3 |
| Turnovers | 13.3, +2.5 | 15.8 |
| Steals | 8.5 | 5.6 |
| Blocks | 2.3 | 2.4 |
| Fouls Committed | 16.7 | 16.6 |
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
| Golden Eagles | 19.6 (196) | 19.4 (194) | 18.7 (187) | 22.0 (200) |
| Opponents | 17.5 (175) | 15.2 (152) | 18.5 (185) | 18.0 (180) |
As we can see, Marquette does a great job of scoring throughout the course of the game. Marquette has outscored their opponents in every quarter, and they are great at closing out halves, outscoring opponents by 4.2 points in the 2nd quarter and by 4.0 points in the 4th.
Marquette Key Players:
Marquette relies on six players, with a couple other players getting spot minutes.
- #11 Allazia Blockton (Guard): Blockton is averaging 18.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. She is a very efficient player, shooting 50.4% FG, 40.0% 3PT, and 83.7% FT.
- #5 Natisha Hiedeman (Guard): Hiedeman is averaging 14.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. She is a good shooter overall, shooting 43.8% FG, 38.1% 3PT, and 77.8% FT.
- #12 Erika Davenport (Forward): Davenport is averaging 13.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. She is a very good low post player, averaging close to a double-double while shooting 57.5% from the field.
- #15 Amani Wilborn (Guard): Wilborn is averaging 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
- #1 Danielle King (Guard): King is averaging 7.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and a steal per game. King is a good shooter, making 44.4% FG, 37.5% 3PT, and 84.2% FT.
- #3 Makayla Yentz (Forward): Yentz is averaging 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, .5 assists, and 1.2 steals.
Lobo Team Stats:
| Lobos | Opponents | |
| Points Per Possession | .884 | .827 |
| Possessions Per Game | 79.67 | 78.89 |
| Points Per Game | 70.4 | 65.2 |
| Field Goal % | 38.9% (230/592) | 35.5% (225/633) |
| 3 Point % | 28.4% (64/225) | 30.1% (56/186) |
| Free Throw % | 56.5% (108/191) | 73.6% (81/110) |
| Field Goals Per Game | 25.56/65.78 | 25/70.33 |
| 3 Pointers Per Game | 7.11/25 | 6.22/20.67 |
| Free Throws Per Game | 12/21.22 | 9/12.22 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 48.2, +4 | 44.2 |
| Assists | 16 | 13.4 |
| Field Goals Attempted | 62.6% | 53.78% |
| Turnovers | 15.1, -2.2 | 12.9 |
| Turnover % | 18.9% | 16.35% |
| Steals | 6.2 | 7.3 |
| Blocks | 5 | 3.6 |
| Fouls Committed | 13.89 | 18.22 |
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
| Lobos | 18.3 (165) | 18.78 (169) | 17 (153) | 16.33 (147) |
| Opponents | 13.67 (123) | 17.44 (157) | 18.56 (167) | 15.56 (140) |
Key Player Stats:
- Van der Keijl: 16 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.33 blocks, 61.4% FG.
- Cherise Beynon: 14.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 8 assists, 1.78 steals.
- Alex Lapeyrolerie: 11.1 points, 2.3 rebounds.
- Mykiel Burleson: 10.4 points, 3.7 rebounds.
- Jaisa Nunn 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds.
- Kianna Keller: 3.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.44 blocks.
Main Offensive Players Shots Per Game Breakdown:
| Field Goal Attempts | Field Goals Made | 3 Point Attempts | 3 Pointers Made | Free Throw Attempts | Free Throws Made | |
| Van der Keijl | 11.22 | 6.89 | NA | NA | 4.44 | 2.22 |
| Beynon | 17.33 | 5.44 | 7.78 | 1.78 | 3.56 | 2.11 |
| Lapeyrolerie | 10.43 | 3.57 | 7.86 | 2.86 | 1.43 | 1.14 |
| Burleson | 10.22 | 3.44 | 4.78 | 1.22 | 3.89 | 2.33 |
| Nunn | 8.11 | 3.78 | 1 | .33 | 3.22 | 1.89 |
Game Prediction:
The Lobos are the underdogs in this game and should be viewed as such. I do think that the Lobos do have a chance in the game, but I would be surprised if they won by more than a couple of points. I give the Lobos are 31% chance to win this game, with the final score being 81-73 Marquette. I hope that the Lobos can prove me wrong and go on break with a great road win.
Game Info:
Who: New Mexico Lobos (4-5) at Marquette Golden Eagles (8-2)
When: Wednesday December 21, 10:30 AM MT
Where: Al McGuire Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Steam: gomarquette.com
Radio: 610 AM