Marshall University Athletics
Herd Women To Open Home Slate Saturday Against Niagara
11/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 23, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format 
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Following a thrilling overtime win against Morehead State, the Thundering Herd women's basketball team will open up its home slate, playing host to Niagara University on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.
Marshall (1-3, 0-0 C-USA) is coming off of its longest season-opening road trip since the 2001-02 season. Following an 0-3 stint in the Preseason WNIT, the Herd rebounded with an 83-79 win against Morehead State on Wednesday night.
Senior Meagan Samis, who is second on the team averaging 11.3 points per game, had a season-high 18 points, but none were more important than her buzzer-beater in regulation which sent the game into overtime. Last season, Samis led the team, shooting 48.4% from three-point range. Until the Morehead State game, Samis had not attempted a three, but rebounded in a strong way, going 4 of 5 beyond the arc.
Two newcomers, Casey Baker and Kizzy Hart, also had career nights against the Eagles. Baker set another career high in scoring, tallying 18 points at MSU to set the team lead in that department with 12.3/game.
Hart was also solid, scoring 17 points in the clutch. All of her points came in the second half and overtime. Her ten second-half points were pivotal in keeping Morehead State from putting the game away. The effort on Wednesday tied her for third with Alyssa Hammond in scoring with 10.3 PPG.
Hammond made the difference in overtime at MSU, scoring seven of Marshall's 14 overtime points to put the game away. She finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.
The Morehead State win should give the team momentum heading into a three-game homestand. Following Saturday's game against Niagara, Marshall will host the Fifth Third Classic next weekend, which will feature opponent Harvard, Jackson State and Pittsburgh.
Niagara enters Saturday with a 2-2 record. After starting off 2-0, the Purple Eagles fell in their last two contests at Maryland Eastern Shore and St. Bonaventure. Sarah Wilson leads Niagara, averaging 15 points per game. Michelle Manfredi is averaging 7.8 rebounds to lead that category.
Last season marked the first meeting between the schools with Niagara coming out on top, 80-70 on the road. That game saw Alyssa Hammond notch her career-high in points with 23, but 34 points by Shaunna Ambrose of the Purple Eagles gave them the win.
Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center. The game can be heard live on Marshall's student station, WMUL 88.1-FM, which will also utilize a web broadcast at www.marshall.edu/wmul.
