MU eyes help from supporting cast
The Marquette women's basketball team plays its first NCAA Tournament game under second-year head coach Megan Duffy when the 10th-seeded Golden Eagles (19-6) take on seventhseeded Virginia Tech (14-9) at 11 a.m. Sunday (ESPNU) in San Antonio, Texas.
MU is playing in its fourth straight NCAA Tournament and would have made it last season had the event not been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here are three things to watch: Supporting cast: MU is led by two senior stars in Selena Lott (14.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game) and Lauren
Van Kleunen (12.1 and 6.1), but unexpected players can crash the stage in the NCAA Tournament.
Sophomore guard Claire Kaifes (24 for 70 on three-pointers) is the kind of shooter who can heat up in a hurry.
Fellow sophomores Taylor Valladay and Liza Karlen could also be breakout candidates.
"Our depth can certainly be an advantage in this game," Duffy said. "I thought Claire Kaifes had a great week of practice."
Defensive focus: MU has its hands full with 6-foot-5 sophomore center Elizabeth Kitley (18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game) and 5-9 senior guard Aisha Sheppard (18.3 points per game).
"Kitley, I haven't seen a kid her age with her versatility and skill-set she has," Duffy said. "She's got a little Dirk Nowitzki in her. Some of the shots she takes, no matter if you're in her face or doubling, she makes them. She just shoots right over you."
Virginia Tech also likes to shoot threes, with Sheppard leading the way at 237 attempts. The Golden Eagles have only shot 325 threes, this season, while the Hokies have hoisted 620.
Underdog mentality: The Golden Eagles finished second in the Big East behind top-ranked and perennial national power Connecticut. MU might be under-seeded in the tournament and that could be motivation.
"We're an exciting group to watch," Van Kleunen said. "We understand we don't have to be the flashiest team. We can be the team that works hard, gets after it and has fun doing it."