Marshall University Athletics
Herd Women Drive By Rival WVU, 82-76
1/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Herd Women Drive By Rival WVU, 82-76
1/11/2005
- Box Score
Junior Reshundra Smiley drives by WVU's Meg Bulger for a bucket in the Herd's 82-76 triumph over rival WVU. Smiley had a career-high 17 points. photo by Matt Riley |
CHARLESTON, W.Va. ? The Marshall women?s basketball team broke a three-game losing streak to intrastate rival West Virginia on Tuesday night, 82-76, at the Charleston Civic Center in the Toyota Capital Classic.
Marshall (6-7) used a joint effort to combat a career-high 36-point performance by WVU?s Meg Bulger. The sophomore?s total is the highest in the Big East this season.
WVU (10-4) trailed by three at the first media timeout of the first half, due largely in part to five points from junior Reshundra Smiley (Modesto, Calif.). The junior college transfer ended the game with a career-high 17 points.
Despite a 9-0 run by the Mountaineers half way through the first period, the Herd headed into the locker room at the half with a 43-38 lead via two free throws from MU?s Teyonka Hodge (Washington, D.C.).
After numerous lead changes throughout the first 13 minutes of the second period, a Hodge bucket and a made free throw gave MU a 64-58 lead. Two Bulger free throws would cut the deficit to two for the Mountaineers one minute later and a Herd turnover would result in a Kate Glusko jumper to tie the game with five minutes remaining.
Bulger picked up her fourth foul on an illegal screen at 3:20 to give MU the ball with a two-point lead. A three-pointer by Bulger would give the game its final tie of the game at 69-69 at the 2:40 mark.
The Herd would take over from there.
Marshall had three consecutive chances for three-point plays as Crystal Champion (Washington, D.C.) and Smiley (2) each were fouled in the action of making baskets in the paint. MU converted on two of the three plays for a 77-73 lead with under a minute remaining.
?The game plan was to take it to the basket and try to get them into foul trouble,? Smiley said. ?We succeeded.?
Hodge, who scored a season-high and tied a career-high with 20 points in the contest, netted five points in the final 40 seconds, including four consecutive foul shots with 38 seconds left in the game. After being fouled by the Mountaineer?s Yolanda Paige, a team technical foul assessed to WVU would allow for an eight-point cushion for the Herd.
Champion led all MU players with 11 rebounds. Hodge and Bulger were named Toyota Capital Classic Most Valuable Players.
The win was the first against WVU for head coach Royce Chadwick.
?We?re very excited?it was a great team effort,? Chadwick said. ?They all stepped up and contributed. This win is for our fans and administration.?
The Herd will travel to Northern Illinois on Jan. 15 for a match-up with the Huskies. Tip-off is slated for 3:05 p.m.
