Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Hands Buffalo A 20-Point Loss
2/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Marshall Hands Buffalo A 20-Point Loss
2/13/2002
BUFFALO, N.Y. --The Marshall University women?s basketball team improved to 7-16 overall, 3-9 in Mid-American Conference play with a 55-35 win over the Buffalo Bulls (9-15, 4-9 MAC). The Herd held the Bulls to an 11-for-42 shooting night from the floor (26.2%), their best defensive effort of the year.
?Sometimes we never know if our offense shows up, but tonight, we relied on a strong defense to help our team win a ballgame,? said Marshall coach Royce Chadwick. ?Our goal was to get better in February, and tonight, we played February-type defense. I?m extremely proud of this team.?
The Thundering Herd took a 22-11 lead into half behind a stellar defensive performance. Marshall held Buffalo to only three field goals in the first half, with their first made basket not coming until the 10:04 mark in the half. At that point, MU held an 8-4 advantage. The 11 points scored in a half is the fewest scored by the Bulls this season, and the fewest allowed by a Herd team. Buffalo shot only 17.6% from the floor (3-for-17), while Marshall made 10 of its 28 shots (35.7%). Melissa Arnold (Charleston, W. Va.) led all scorers with six points, all on three pointers.
Marshall never trailed the rest of the way, although Buffalo cut the Herd lead to 39-33 with 5:49 to play. Clutch baskets by Catie Knable (Floyd Knobs, Ind.) and Ida Dotson (Tombstone, Ariz.) kept the hosts at bay as the Herd cruised to a 20-point victory, their largest in MAC play since MU reentered the MAC during the 1997-98 campaign.
Marshall was led by Knable, who tallied a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Dotson also added 14 points in the winning effort.
The Herd return to action Saturday afternoon against Bowling Green in the Henderson Center. Tip-time is set for 6:30 p.m.
