Forbes and Volker lead Marquette as scoring duo

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Marquette women's basketball team is 8-3 in Cara Consuegra's first year running the team, heading into its first Big East game at DePaul on Sunday, Dec. 29.

Two players that stuck around, senior guard Lee Volker and sophomore forward Skylar Forbes, are taking advantage of the new opportunities.

Forbes has nearly tripled her production from her freshman season. Through 11 games, she leads the Golden Eagles in scoring at 15 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounds per game, 6.8, and blocks per game, 1.9. Ranking her among the best in Big East in all three categories.

"I kinda really established myself in the paint. I work with Chazz Franklin on that and Chaia Huff. They've both been really helpful for me and kinda just getting my footwork down, making sure I'm comfortable taking those shots in practice kinda leads to taking those shots in-game," said Forbes.

"What I tell her is we are a good team when she scores. We are a great team when she scores, rebounds, and defends. When she's doing all three of those at a high level, watch out -- we're pretty good," said Consuegra.

Forbes said she worked on "expanding her box" in the summer and so far, it's working.

"I'm stepping outside, I'm playing inside. I'm making sure I'm crashing. Just doing a little bit of everything," said Forbes.

If you spend any time speaking to her, you won't be able to miss Skylar's smile.

"I like to call her the joker because she can go out and kill people with a smile on her face,"
joked Consuegra.

Volker, on the other hand, is one of two seniors on the team. She and Abbey Cracknell helped Coach Consuegra, recruiting tours when she first arrived. It's an example of why Consuegra calls her a Swiss Army knife on and off the court.

"Not only is she scoring, rebounding, assisting, defending - she's also taken on that leadership role. She's always taking care of her teammates. She's always reminding people about what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and how it needs to be done," said Consuegra.

Volker is second on the team in scoring, at 14 points per game, and in assists, at 3.1 assists.

"I think coming in, I just knew that I had a little more experience than my teammates, so I think that gave me a lot of confidence," Volker said of her increased production. "Then this summer, working with my position coach, Coach D, and then just building confidence in the kinda shots I take in-game."

Both Volker, three straight times, and Forbes, in back-to-back weeks, have made the Big East weekly honor roll the last five weeks.

Heading into conference play, the Golden Eagles hang their hats on the defensive end and want to bring it on that end every night.

"They've really carried my vision and put it out there on the court. So, I've just been really pleased with these group of players," said Consuegra.

"We're really known for our mantra, we defend and we're a really good rebounding team, so I think we're just really settling into those things that we're really good at," said Forbes.

"Coach Cara just fits all of our principles the same way and kinda holds us to a higher standard with them. So just adjusting to her and what she needs from us has been really fun," said Volker.

Following the road trip to DePaul, Marquette returns to the Al McGuire Center to face No. 7 ranked UConn on Jan. 1.