Marquette Women's Basketball Defeats Xavier 77-65

Golden Eagles overcome slow start to win regular season home finale

Feb. 26, 2026 at 4:25am

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The Marquette women's basketball team overcame an early deficit to defeat the Xavier Musketeers 77-65 in their regular season home finale. After trailing 18-14 at the end of the first quarter, Marquette went on an 18-5 run in the second quarter to take a 32-26 lead at halftime. The Golden Eagles built a nine-point lead in the third quarter, but Xavier battled back to make it a close game late. However, Marquette pulled away in the final minutes to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This win keeps Marquette in contention for a strong finish to the regular season and a potential high seed in the Big East tournament. The Golden Eagles have shown resilience in coming back from early deficits, which will be an important trait as they prepare for postseason play.

The details

Marquette struggled early, trailing 18-14 after the first quarter, but a 18-5 run in the second quarter gave them a 32-26 halftime lead. The Golden Eagles built a nine-point lead in the third quarter, but Xavier battled back to make it a close game late. However, Marquette pulled away in the final minutes, led by strong performances from Halle Vice (22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists) and Skylar Forbes (19 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 1 steal).

  • Marquette trailed 18-14 at the end of the first quarter.
  • Marquette went on an 18-5 run in the second quarter to take a 32-26 halftime lead.
  • Marquette built a nine-point lead in the third quarter, but Xavier battled back to make it a close game late.
  • Marquette pulled away in the final minutes to secure the 77-65 victory.

The players

Halle Vice

A key player for Marquette, scoring 22 points with 8 rebounds and 3 assists.

Skylar Forbes

Contributed 19 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, and 1 steal for Marquette.

Mariyah Noel

Led Xavier with 24 points in the game.

Cara Consuegra

The head coach of the Marquette women's basketball team.

Billi Chambers

The head coach of the Xavier women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“It felt like the Golden Eagles just kept getting in their own way for the majority of the home finale.”

— Andrew Fleck, Author

What’s next

Marquette will visit Providence on Sunday afternoon for their regular season finale. The Friars are 14-15 overall and 7-11 in Big East play this season.

The takeaway

Marquette's ability to overcome early deficits and pull away late in the game shows the team's resilience and determination as they prepare for the postseason. The Golden Eagles' balanced scoring attack and strong defensive effort were key factors in this important conference victory.