Marshall University Athletics
Morehead State Up Next For Herd Women
11/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format 
MOREHEAD, Ky. - A trip to Morehead State will wrap up a four-game season-opening road trip for the Marshall University women's basketball team as the Herd will take on the Eagles on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
The Thundering Herd finds itself 0-3 for the first time in the Chadwick era and will try to avoid its first 0-4 start since the 1998-99 season. Late game struggles have been detrimental to the Herd so far. Marshall has led or been tied in 93 out of 120 minutes played so far this season, but late opponent runs have made the difference. In the opener, Evansville had a 26-0 run while IUPUI had a 14-4 run and Radford closed out game three scoring 21 of the final 25 points in the game.
While the 0-3 record may be negative, there are several positive signs for the Herd. Marshall's defense in the opening half has been stellar, holding opponents to a .343 shooting percentage, which would be second in Conference USA. The offense has also been solid at the start, shooting 48.3% in the first half, which would also put the team second in the conference.
Several players have had solid starts, beginning with junior Casey Baker. Baker scored a career high 14 points in the Radford game, giving her the team lead in scoring, averaging 10.3 point per game. She also leads in field goals, minutes-played and steals. Baker's 2.33 steals per game is tied for fourth in C-USA.
Meagan Samis has also been solid thus far, leading the team with 19 rebounds. In two games last weekend, she averaged 10.5 points and eight boards. Against IUPUI, Samis tallied two blocks, equaling her total from last season.
Morehead State enters Wednesday's contest with a 2-1 record. The Eagles have played two of the same opponents as Marshall; Evansville and IUPUI. Evansville topped MSU on Monday, 78-67 while MSU defeated IUPUI last Wednesday, 56-54.
Marshall owns a 22-19 advantage in the series which has seen the schools meet in 32 of the last 34 years. The 2000-01 season marked the last time they did not meet, the other season was in 1997-98. The Herd has won the last five meetings, including the last three on the road. Last season, the Herd edged the Eagles, 65-62.
Following Wednesday's game, the Herd will finally open up its home season on Saturday, playing host to Niagara University. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.
