MU women’s basketball begins a new era under Duffy
The Marquette women’s basketball team has undergone drastic changes since last season.
First-year head coach Megan Duffy is starting to put her stamp on a program that has six freshmen, a sophomore transfer and just five returning players.
With so many new faces, there will be a big learning curve this season, which begins Tuesday against Morgan State at the Al McGuire Center.
“It’s my favorite part of the game, being able to teach, inspire and motivate,” said Duffy, who was the coach for two seasons at Miami (Ohio). “And I think I’ve probably had to slow down, in a lot of ways, just how we approach practice.
“And just the amount of stopping and explaining things. Not only because we’re young but more so them getting to know my style.”
The Golden Eagles were picked by Big East coaches to finish ninth in the 10team conference. That’s not a surprise with successful coach Carolyn Kieger bouncing from MU to Penn State after last season and five 1,000-point scorers graduating.
“I kind of like us being that underdog with a chip on our shoulder” Duffy said. “We were joking at Big East media day that I think people were sick of Marquette winning and being at the top, so they were like ‘We’re going to put you down at the bottom for a little bit before you earn it back again.’ ”
The five returning players are trying to bridge the two eras.
“We decided early on it was going to be a collective leader,” senior forward Altia Anderson said. “It wasn’t going to be one person to lead us, it would be everybody.”
Anderson will be a key player. She played more down the stretch last season after Erika Davenport suffered a season-ending injury.
“I think you’ve seen in the past how athletic she is and how she can rebound the basketball,” Duffy said. “And those are going to be her staples. But we’re going to try to get her in more of a scoring role.”
Sophomore Chloe Marotta has an inside-out game that could fit well with Duffy’s offense.
“We’re going to do a little two-post action this year,” Marotta said. “Something different than last year. We were more guard-oriented, where this year, we’re kind of going to work our two posts. A little two-man game with ballscreen action.”
Junior guard Selena Lott is the leading returning scorer after averaging 7.1 points per game. She was a secondteam all-Big East selection.
“I don’t think this young woman has reached close to her potential,” Duffy said. “You saw glimpses of it last year when she could come in and drop 17, 18 points. And she’s always been known as a defensive stopper and hustle kid and can guard the best player.”
Jordan King was named the preseason Big East freshman of the year. She has impressed the veteran players with her savvy and play-making ability.
“I saw talent when she first came,” Lott said. “She was already on our level.”
Post player Camryn Taylor is another freshman who will play a big role.
“She just has a presence about her,”
Duffy said. “She’s probably been the most efficient player we have.”
King and Taylor both mentioned how much it helps to have players like Lott and Anderson guiding them.
“They are focused on their leadership,” King said. “Having them being able to teach us in practices and give us different tips that they see. Even when we go back in the locker room and talk about practice, they’re always there to answer questions.”
It will be a learning process for everyone.
“They may mess up,” Anderson said. “We may mess up. Everybody’s roles are completely different and with that learning and change comes difficulty.
“We’re just going to have to take it one day at a time, one practice at a time, and keep learning and getting better.”