2022 Battle 4 Atlantis Women's Tournament

Marquette Women's Basketball Preview: A Dark Horse To Watch In BIG EAST

The return of two standout veterans and tenacious defense give Marquette the feel of a dark-horse contender in the BIG EAST.

Oct 16, 2022 by Kyle Kensing

Marquette Women's Basketball Preview: A Dark Horse To Watch In BIG EAST

Marquette put together a solid postseason resume during the 2021-2022 season.

It featured 21 regular-season wins, including 13 in a historically tough BIG EAST, with wins over Creighton and DePaul (including a BIG EAST Tournament blowout).

However, a four-season streak of bids in the NCAA Tournament came to an end for the Golden Eagles. The disappointment of a season ago could be a motivator for an experienced Marquette squad capable of contending in another loaded BIG EAST season.

Nov 7, 2022, TBD

2022 Fairleigh Dickinson vs Marquette - Women's

2021 Season Review

Marquette boasted one of the premier defenses in the BIG EAST a season ago and ranked 50th nationally in advanced defensive rating per HerHoopStats.com. Liza Karlen helped pace the Golden Eagles with a blocked shots on 3.6 percent of defensive possessions, while Jordan King delivered both blocks and steals on 2.1 percent of possessions each.

The two return this season as leaders on the defensive end and building blocks offensively.

Marquette loses its two leading scorers from the 2021-2022 campaign in Lauren Van Kleunen and Karissa McLaughlin, who posted 13.7 and 13.1 points per game.

However, both King and Karlen scored in double-figures, as well, pouring in 11.5 and 10.2, and Karlen was outstanding on the glass at 7.2 rebounds per game. Only Chloe Marotta's 7.3 boards per game average was better, and Marotta chipped in 6.9 points per game.

🚨NEW CAREER HIGH ALERT🚨

Matching her career high wasn't enough, so Liza Karlen decided to break it instead.

She's up to 2️⃣6️⃣ points on the afternoon! #muwbb pic.twitter.com/DfR7C4I960
— Marquette WBB (@MarquetteWBB) March 5, 2022

If there's a primary concern in replicating the scoring production lost from the departing leaders, it's McLaughlin's outstanding 3-point shooting. She connected on better than 40 percent of her attempts beyond the arc. King was the only other Golden Eagle to attempt more than 38 with 57, of which she made 33.3 percent.

Key Returner

Jordan King, G, Sr. - Rockton, Illinois

Jordan King was a model of consistency for Marquette a season ago and has steadily improved her production in each of her three seasons as a Golden Eagle.

She's in position to step up as the star in her fourth year, building off a strong performance late in the 2021-2022 schedule.

King recorded her season-high with 21 points in the BIG EAST Tournament rout of DePaul and went for 17 points and nine rebounds in Marquette's WNIT win over Purdue.

Her versatility as a scorer, outstanding defender, reliable rebounder and Marquette's leading ball distributor make King a player poised for a breakout campaign.

Key Addition

Nia Clark, G, Sr. - Transfer from Xavier

No stranger to BIG EAST competition, Nia Clark was a streaky scorer for Xavier in a 2021-2022 season cut short when she was dismissed from the team in February.

Before then, Clark has posted some big games, including a 20-point effort where she went 4-of-7 on 3-point shooting in a win over Georgetown and 18 points with 3-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc against rival Cincinnati.

Clark's output fluctuated dramatically from game-to-game, including her long-range touch. She shot sub-27% on the season, but joining a Marquette lineup where she will be a complementary piece of the offense could open more scoring opportunities for Clark to find her groove.

Games To Watch

Nov. 19-21, Battle 4 Atlantis

Marquette visits the Bahamas the week before Thanksgiving to play in the toughest early-season tournament in the country.

The eight-team field features blue-blood Tennessee, perennial contender Louisville, Rutgers, UCLA and mid-major powers Gonzaga and South Dakota State.

The Golden Eagles open this illustrious tournament with a Texas Longhorns bunch coming off a 29-win campaign that ended in the Elite Eight.

Nov 19-21, 2022, 5:00 PM UTC

2022 Battle 4Atlantis Women's Tournament

Dec. 4 at Seton Hall

Dec 4, 2022, TBD

2022 Marquette vs Seton Hall - Women's

The BIG EAST's depth promises to be one of, if not the conference's defining trait in the 2022-2023 season.

Teams like Marquette and Seton Hall both have the pieces to be in that mix for the top 4, which last year proved to be the cutoff for NCAA Tournament consideration.

Scoring a signature BIG EAST win early, and on the road, could be vital to setting the league-schedule tone for the Golden Eagles.