Marshall University Athletics
Herd Begins Four-Game Home Stand Friday Against UCF
2/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2008
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Thundering Herd women's basketball team will start its four-game home stand with a match-up against the UCF Knights on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.
Marshall (12-12, 4-6 C-USA) will be looking to right the ship after posting a record of 1-6 in its last seven games. The Thundering Herd's lone win over that stretch came against the Knights on January 31.
Last time out, Marshall fell just short of a come-from-behind win at Tulane, 61-56. MU found itself down 14, midway through the latter half, but came back to within a point with just over a minute remaining, but missed lay-up attempts, coupled with hot free throw shooting by the Green Wave, proved to be the difference.
For the fifth time in as many games, Alyssa Hammond found herself in double digits, scoring a game high 14 points. She has shot 63.6% from the field over that stretch and has also turned it up at the free throw line, going 17-of-21 throughout the same set of games.
Another member of the Herd who has gotten back in her groove is Casey Baker. Baker has posted solid all-around numbers in three of her last four games. If you take out the first game against Southern Miss, her averages over the other three games are 12.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 4.0 steals.
C-USA's season leader in steals has gotten back on track in that department. Prior to the initial meeting with UCF, Baker was on a stretch that saw her record two steals or less in 5-of-6 games. Since then, she has tallied three or more three times.
The Knights (8-15, 1-9 C-USA) come to Huntington mired in a five-game losing streak while going 1-9 in their last ten. The last win for UCF came on January 20th against Rice.
UCF has ten freshmen on their team, including the leading rebounder in Conference USA, Tia Lewis. Lewis' 11.8 boards per game is fourth in the nation. She is a solid shooter finding herself No. 2 in the league in shooting percentage, hitting 54.9% of her shots. The Knights have another strong rebounding freshman in Emma Cannon, who averages 9.2 rebounds.
Friday's game will mark Marshall's participation in the WBCA's "Think Pink" campaign. The first 750 fans at the game will receive pink rally towels while pink ribbons will also be available. All fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game.
Players on both teams will be sporting pink t-shirts prior to the game while wearing pink shoelaces and headbands during the contest. "Think Pink" is a program started last year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, which was started to raise breast cancer awareness. The success of the program has grown dramatically in only its second year. In its inaugural campaign last year, 120 institutions participated, while this year, over 900 schools will be participating in the initiative.
On Sunday, the Herd will continue its home stand with a match-up against Southern Miss. The Eagles enter the weekend on a three-game win streak and are winners of four out of their last five contests.
