Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Falls To Radford 77-74 In Overtime
12/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Marshall Falls To Radford 77-74 In Overtime
12/14/2002
Radford, Va.--The Radford Highlanders used a 6-0 run to end regulation and then clutch free throw shooting in overtime to overcome the Marshall Thundering Herd, 77-74, Saturday night at the Dedmon Center. MU fell to 3-3 on the young 2002-03 season.
?The turnovers caught up with us,? said Marshall coach Royce Chadwick. ?You give up 77 points on the road, and it?s hard to win. We know it?s hard to win on the road, and you have to make plays to get the win. We just didn?t make the plays tonight.?
The first half was a period of runs, as both teams controlled play at different points throughout the half. Marshall turned a 13-8 Highlander lead into a 20-14 Thundering Herd advantage midway through the period. Minutes later, Radford went on a ten-point run of their own to make the score 24-20, and then at 3:51 of the first half, Cassie Hackworth nailed a three-pointer to cap a Marshall eight-point string to give MU a 28-24 lead. The half ended with the Thundering Herd leading 34-31.
In the second half, RU?s Hanna Statsehka hit a two pointer to close out a 9-1 Highlander run to start the period. However, the Herd fought back behind senior Ida Dotson, who single-handedly kept Marshall in the game. Dotson scored 12 out of the team?s first 17 points of the second half, as the Thundering Herd regained the lead from Radford midway through the period. They kept that lead until Radford?s Amanda Neby knocked in a jumper with 58 seconds to go in regulation to tie the score at 65. Neby?s basket closed out a 6-0 run to end the second half. Marshall had two chances as time expired, but could not get a quality shot attempt either time.
The overtime period began with a three-pointer from Radford?s Ludmilla Nicheporchuk. Marshall cut the lead to one on a Nadia Swanigan basket a minute later, but the Thundering Herd would get no closer. Radford used clutch free throw shooting to keep the visitors at bay. In the overtime period, the Highlanders made 9-of-10 free throws, while Marshall never visited the line.
For the game, the Thundering Herd had 29 turnovers, including 19 in the first half. Marshall outrebounded Radford, 60-44, on the boards, and held a 28-14 advantage on the offensive glass. However, MU could only muster 29 made field goals, which was a huge disappointment for Coach Chadwick and his staff.
?The offensive boards to field goal ratio is not good enough,? said Chadwick. ?You?ve got to convert those opportunities into baskets.?
Dotson led Marshall with a career-high 23 points on the night. Catie Knable added her third double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Nadia Swanigan added ten points, and Amy Smith had ten rebounds.
The Herd try to regroup for a trip to the Bahamas next week. Marshall takes on the Clemson Tigers on December 21st in the Sun Splash Shootout, and either Ole Miss or Oakland University on Sunday.
