Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Women Open Exhibition Season With 78-41 Win
11/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 2, 2008
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Sophomore Tynikki Crook picked up right where she left off last season, scoring 20 points while grabbing 12 boards to lead the Thundering Herd women's basketball team to a 78-41 win over the Exodus All-Star Team in its first exhibition contest Sunday afternoon at the Cam Henderson Center.
Crook's total of 20 points, along with her eight free throws, marked personal bests for her at Marshall.
Three other Marshall players joined Crook in double figures, including Casey Baker and Chantelle Handy, who scored 12 points each, and newcomer Angelica "Stick" Harris, who scored 11.
"I felt like we improved on rebounding and 3-point shooting in the offseason because we went after that type of recruit and obviously the rebounding was there tonight," Marshall head coach Royce Chadwick said. "Three-point shooting took us awhile to get a little bit more acclimated."
"We were full of adrenaline and first game jitters. The freshmen in our shoot around this morning were electric," Chadwick continued. "They looked like they had been plugged in all night long and were full charged. We had to slow them down a little bit and get them under control."
Marshall was a bit tenuous at the start, finding itself down 9-8 five minutes into the contest. A jumper by Handy started what turned into an 11-0 Marshall run that would set the pace for the rest of the game. Two buckets by Alix Barnette finished off the run, which lasted over four minutes.
Up 26-16 with just under six minutes left in the opening stanza, the Herd finished the half on a 9-0 run to lead Exodus by a score of 35-16 at the half. Chantelle Handy notched the final four points of the half and led all scorers with ten points at the break.
The second half was the same story for Marshall as it would outscore Exodus, 43-25 to take the 78-41 win. The half began with another Marshall run, this one a 17-6 stretch that saw the Herd open up a 54-22 lead. Crook notched the first six MU points of the half while Harris contributed to the run with six points of her own.
With 4:55 remaining in the game, a lay-up by Handy gave MU a 39-point lead, its largest of the contest. The teams traded baskets late in the contest as Marshall would eventually come away with the 37-point victory.
The Herd had a strong advantage on the glass, finishing with a 51-30 edge in rebounds, including 23-3 on the offensive glass. Marshall also did a great job holding onto the ball, committing just five turnovers while forcing Exodus into 18.
Marshall shot a solid .408 from the field while holding its opponent to .318 shooting, including .286 in the first half.
Junior Andrea Ibezim finished with eight points for MU while freshman Tania Walters and junior Alix Barnette notched five each. Barnette also dished out a game high five assists. Crook, Handy, Hammond and freshman Tania Walters recorded three helpers apiece.
The lone double-digit scorer for Exodus was Nikki Avery, who scored 13 points. Leading the team in rebounding was Sophia Rodgers with six and Cherise George, who had five.
Marshall will have six days to prepare for its second and final test before the regular season as it will welcome the DT-3 All Star Team to the Cam Henderson Center on Saturday at 7 p.m. The team opens the regular season on November 14 when it travels to Appalachian State.
