Marshall University Athletics
Herd Women Top Defending C-USA Champion SMU, 70-63
1/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2009
DALLAS - Alyssa Hammond scored 18 points, including 14 in the second half to lead the Thundering Herd women's basketball team to a 70-63 win over the defending Conference USA champions SMU Thursday evening at Moody Coliseum.
With the score tied at 60-60 with three minutes remaining, the Herd (8-6, 1-1 C-USA) outscored SMU (8-7, 1-1 C-USA) 10-3 over the remainder of the game to take the win, its first in five tries against the Mustangs.
The first half was a back-and-forth match, with the lead being changed five times. Marshall had the dominant hand early on, jumping out to a 9-0 lead. With the Herd up 2-0 thanks to a Tynikki Crook layup, Casey Baker took the ball all the way down the floor for a score. On the ensuing possession, Baker hit a wide open Alix Barnette, who hit a three to give MU a 7-0 lead, forcing SMU to use its first timeout.
Another Crook score made it a 9-0 game before SMU would score. With Marshall up 11-2, SMU made its run. The Mustangs reeled off 12 of the next 14 points to take its first lead of the game, 14-13. A Baker three gave the Herd the lead right back as the teams would swap it five teams over the remainder of the period.
Delisha Wills scored the final eight points of the half for the Mustangs as SMU took a 29-26 lead at the half. Wills finished the half with ten points to lead all scorers. Marshall stayed close despite 15 first-half turnovers and a 10-2 deficit in fouls.
SMU extended the lead to six points, 40-34, just over four minutes into the second half before the Herd stormed back to retake the lead. Buckets by Crook, Handy and Hammond put the Herd back up by two points, 42-40, with 12 minutes remaining. That marked the first of seven straight Herd points scored by Hammond.
Over the next eight minutes, the Herd led by as many as three before SMU came back to take a 58-57 lead with 4:39 remaining. With its backs against the wall, the Thundering Herd held SMU to just five points for the rest of the game.
With the score knotted at 60-60, Hammond knocked down two free throws to give MU a 62-60 lead. Up 64-60 with under a minute left, Baker was sent to the line to shoot a one-and-one. After making the first, she missed the second, but an offensive rebound sent Tania Walters to the line, who hit both to put the Herd up 67-60. Brittany Gilliam hit a three with 20 seconds remaining to bring SMU within four points, but three more free throws by Walters sealed the deal for the Herd.
Marshall's biggest advantage came on the boards, outrebounding the Mustangs by a 51-33 margin. The Herd also had a solid night from the floor, shooting .467 while holding SMU to .353 shooting.
Hammond led all scorers with 18 points while Handy finished with 14 points, along with tying Crook with a game high 11 boards. Baker scored ten points.
Delisha Wills led SMU with 14 points while LaShandra Hill tallied 13.
Marshall will wrap up the weekend trip against Tulsa on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. ET.