(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) MILWAUKEE – Behind a dominant defensive effort and balanced scoring from a host of newcomers, Marquette opened the 2026-27 season with an 80-42 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday evening at the Al McGuire Center. Senior Halle Vice led all scorers with 17 points to go with 16 rebounds, three assists and two steals.
After the Delta Devils tied the game on their opening field goal, Marquette clamped down defensively and held Mississippi Valley State scoreless for the next seven minutes. The Golden Eagles used a 13-0 run to build a 13-2 advantage with under two minutes remaining in the opening quarter and never looked back.
Marquette led 17-8 after one quarter and stretched the margin to 39-13 at halftime while limiting the visitors to just five second-quarter points. The Golden Eagles continued to control the game on both ends of the floor, outscoring Mississippi Valley State 41-29 in the second half to secure the season-opening victory.
Outside of Vice, Marquette also received significant contributions from its newcomers, as MacKenzie Givens and Yu Han Lin each scored 14 points, while Kayl Petersen added 10 points in their Marquette debuts. Amina Traore added 11 rebounds.
The Golden Eagles shot 45.0 percent from the floor and knocked down nine 3-pointers while dominating the glass, 61-23. Marquette also assisted on 21 of its 27 made field goals. Seven players had at least two assists, including freshman point guard Kinley Asp who had a team-high five.
Defensively, Marquette held Mississippi Valley State to just 14-of-66 shooting (21.2%) from the field and forced 15 turnovers.
NOTABLES
- Marquette held Mississippi Valley State to 21.2 percent shooting from the field. The last opponent to shoot below 22 percent against the Golden Eagles was UIC, which shot 18.2 percent (10-of-55) on Nov. 24, 2018 at Fiserv Forum.
- MU’s 61 rebounds are its most in a game since collecting 70 on Nov. 11, 2013 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
- The Golden Eagles outrebouned the Delta Devils by 38, its largest differential on the glass since a 38-rebound advantage against New Orleans on Nov. 29, 2013.
- Kinley Asp became the first freshman point guard to start a season opener for Marquette since Jordan King in 2019-20.
- Halle Vice recorded the 19th double-double of her career with 17 points and 16 rebounds.
- MacKenzie Givens (14), Yu Han Lin (14) and Kayl Petersen (10 ) all reached double figures in their Marquette debuts.
UP NEXT
Marquette returns to action on Saturday, hosting No. 17 Minnesota at the Al McGuire Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT
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