(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) – The Marquette University women’s lacrosse team (9-6, 3-3 BIG EAST) is set for their first BIG EAST Tournament appearance since 2023, facing off against #17 Denver (13-3, 6-0 BIG EAST) in the semifinal round. First draw is set for 5 p.m. CT from Denver, with ESPN+ featuring the broadcast.
LAST TIME OUT
MU closed the regular season with a 12–10 loss at UConn on Saturday, April 25. Riley Jenkins led the Golden Eagles with four goals, while Hanna Bodner and Eileen Dooley added two each as MU rallied multiple times after falling behind early. Marquette trimmed a four‑goal deficit to one at halftime and again pushed within two late in the fourth quarter, but the Huskies held on. Senior Tess Osburn recorded her 200th career point on an assist in the final period.
MARQUETTE IN THE BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
Marquette women’s lacrosse has made four appearances in the BIG EAST Tournament, holding an 0–4 all‑time record, with each trip marked by a semifinal matchup against a nationally ranked opponent. The Golden Eagles’ previous appearance as the No. 4 seed came in 2018, when Marquette fell to top‑seeded Florida, 19–8, in Gainesville. In its other tournament runs, Marquette competed as a higher seed but came up short each time, including a pair of losses to Georgetown and a one‑goal setback at UConn in 2023.
GOLDEN EAGLES RAKE IN BIG EAST AWARDS
Marquette placed six players on the 2026 All‑BIG EAST teams, tying the program record for most honorees in a single season, a mark previously reached in 2022 and 2023. The Golden Eagles were highlighted by unanimous First Team selections Hanna Bodner and Dani Serrano, with Bodner earning BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year honors and Serrano named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, the second time in program history Marquette earned two major league awards in the same season. Tess Osburn was named to the First Team, while Sofia Santana, Riley Jenkins and Gabby Windesheim earned Second Team recognition.
BALANCED AND EFFICIENT ATTACK
Marquette ranks No. 23 nationally and No. 2 in the BIG EAST in scoring offense, averaging 13.67 goals per game, while also sitting No. 24 nationally and No. 2 in the league in points per game (20.60). The Golden Eagles scored 205 total goals, reaching double figures in 13 of 15 games and eclipsing the 20‑goal mark twice.
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE CREATES OPPORTUNITIES
Defensively, Marquette ranks No. 26 nationally and No. 1 in the BIG EAST in caused turnovers per game (10.40), forcing 156 takeaways over 15 games. The Golden Eagles consistently flipped field position through ball pressure, ranking near the top of the conference in defensive disruption.
ELITE SHOT SELECTION
Efficiency continues to separate Marquette on the offensive end, as the Golden Eagles rank No. 22 nationally and No. 2 in the BIG EAST in shot percentage (.458). MU also ranks No. 16 nationally and No. 1 in the conference in shots on goal per game (22.73), consistently generating high‑quality looks rather than volume shooting.
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