Marquette women's basketball team sees season end with overtime loss to South Florida in NCAA Tournament
The Marquette women's basketball team had a good chance to earn its first victory in the NCAA Tournament since 2019.
But the ninth-seeded Golden Eagles couldn't hold on to an 11-point lead in the second half and suffered a 67-65 loss in overtime to eighth-seeded South Florida on Friday in Columbia, South Carolina.
MU (21-11) had several chances to take the game back, but several key players fouled out in the extra five minutes.
Chloe Marotta finished with 25 points and seven rebounds in the final game of her five-season career with the Golden Eagles. Jordan King added 16 points and eight boards.
“It’s the hardest day of the year,” Marquette coach Megan Duffy said.
Marotta had 13 points in the first half as MU took a 32-27 advantage at the break.
The Golden Eagles took their biggest lead in regulation at 47-36 when Marotta knocked down a jumper with 2:40 left in the third quarter.
It looked like MU would win in regulation when Liza Karlen converted a layup for a 55-49 advantage with just under 4 minutes remaining.
But the Bulls scored 10 unanswered points until King sank two free throws with 21 seconds left.
MU defensive ace Rose Nkumu then stole the ball and Mackenzie Hare was fouled. Hare's two free throws with 3 seconds left tied the game at 59-59.
South Florida's Elena Tsineke missed a three at the buzzer of regulation.
Foul trouble caught up with MU in overtime with Karlen and Marotta each getting disqualified with their fifth personals.
Still the Golden Eagles were able to take a 63-62 lead with 1:43 left when Emily La Chapell converted a three-point play.
But South Florida's Carla Brito immediately answered with a layup.
MU's last lead came at 65-64 when King sank two free throws, but once again the Bulls had an answer with Tsineke making a jumper with 30 seconds left.
Hare missed a three-pointer and the Golden Eagles were forced to foul when Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu pulled down the rebound.
Fankam Mendjiadeu split two free throws and Duffy called timeout to advance the ball with 7.3 seconds left.
But Hare missed another good look from long range and the Golden Eagles' season came to an end.
The victory sent the Bulls into a likely second-round matchup against No. 1 overall seed and defending champion South Carolina, which played later Friday against Norfolk State.
“We have one day to prepare for them, they have one day to prepare for us,” South Florida coach Jose Fernandez said. “So we’ll see.”
Marquette men vs. Vermont: A look at matchups and what to watch in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Marquette loses to South Florida in NCAA women's tournament
