MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — Marquette used balanced scoring, a strong inside game and a disruptive defense to defeat visiting Mississippi Valley State 80-42 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Tuesday at Bradley Center. An announced crowd of 827 watched the Golden Eagles move to one win and no losses while the Devilettes fell to no wins and one loss. Marquette controlled the game from the opening minutes and never let Mississippi Valley State establish sustained offensive rhythm.

Marquette set the tone early with production around the basket and second-chance opportunities. Kinley Asp opened the scoring with a second-chance pullup jumper, and Halle Vice followed with a layup in the paint as the Golden Eagles quickly built an advantage. MacKenzie Givens converted fast-break free throws, Amina Traore scored inside and Yu Han Lin knocked down a second-chance 3-pointer. Mississippi Valley State received an early 3-pointer from Ixana Winters, but Marquette answered with a tip-in by Brooklyn Hall and free throws from Kam Herring to remain in front.

The Golden Eagles created separation in the second quarter with a series of efficient possessions. Kayl Petersen made a tip-in, Vice added another tip-in and Givens connected on a jumper as Marquette stretched its lead. Givens later hit a second-chance 3-pointer, Petersen made a 3-pointer and Jordan Meulemans added another from beyond the arc. Mississippi Valley State tried to keep pace behind Winters, who scored on a turnaround jumper and a driving layup, while Kambili Nelson made a free throw. Marquette closed the half with free throws from Yu Han Lin and a turnaround jumper from Petersen.

Marquette kept pressing after halftime. Meulemans opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer, Vice scored on consecutive layups and Givens added a driving layup as the Golden Eagles pushed the margin higher. Mississippi Valley State found some offense from Nelson, Sydnei Marshall, Ja’la Douglas, Bryana Block and Mariah Reed-Jones, but Marquette matched those bursts with scoring from Yu Han Lin and Givens. Vice remained active on the glass and in transition, and Marquette carried a comfortable lead into the final quarter.

Mississippi Valley State opened the fourth quarter with a short scoring run. Douglas made back-to-back jumpers, and Block hit a 3-pointer to cut into the deficit. Marquette responded with a hook shot from Petersen, a layup by Vice and a floating jumper from Givens. Meulemans hit another 3-pointer, Vice made a 3-pointer and Yu Han Lin knocked down a 3-pointer as the Golden Eagles rebuilt their cushion. Brooklyn Hall added a 3-pointer and two free throws, Courtney Bluitt scored on a driving layup for the Devilettes and Traore closed the scoring with two free throws.

Vice led Marquette with 17 points and 16 rebounds in 23 minutes, adding three assists and one block. The 6-foot-1 guard from Bettendorf, Iowa, and Pleasant Valley High School was the game’s top performer. Traore, a 6-foot-2 center, had four points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes. Petersen added 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 24 minutes, while Yu Han Lin scored 14 points in 19 minutes. Givens finished with 14 points, three rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes. Asp contributed three points, six rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes, Hall scored seven points with four rebounds in 16 minutes and Meulemans added nine points in 18 minutes.

For Mississippi Valley State, Winters scored 13 points in 24 minutes. Douglas added eight points, one rebound, one assist and two blocks in 18 minutes. The Devilettes shot 14 of 66 from the floor, 2 of 20 from 3-point range and 12 of 20 from the free-throw line. Marquette shot 27 of 60 from the floor, 9 of 25 from beyond the arc and 17 of 20 from the free-throw line. Marquette had 13 offensive rebounds to Mississippi Valley State’s six, while the Devilettes finished with nine assists to Marquette’s eight. Marquette blocked five shots to Mississippi Valley State’s two. Mississippi Valley State committed 15 turnovers and Marquette committed 25. Mississippi Valley State scored 42 points from 84 possessions, an offensive rating of 49.7. Marquette scored 80 points from 82 possessions, an offensive rating of 98.2.

Mississippi Valley State next visits Chicago State, then travels to Southern Mississippi, Lipscomb and Tennessee State before home games against West Georgia, Mercer and South Carolina State, along with road games at Louisiana Tech, UAB and Louisiana-Monroe. Marquette next hosts Minnesota, then Presbyterian, before road games at Missouri State and Wisconsin. The Golden Eagles also have home games ahead against NJIT and Illinois, along with road contests at Milwaukee, Belmont and Xavier and a home game against Butler.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Marquette 71, Mississippi Valley State 56. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Marquette with a 99.7 percent probability to win.