Marshall University Athletics
Women's Hoops To Open Season Friday
11/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Thundering Herd women's basketball team will open up the 2009-10 season on Friday, playing host to Appalachian State at 7 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.
Marshall returns four starters and 11 letterwinners from last year's squad, which posted a 17-15 record and fell just minutes short of a berth in the Conference USA Championship game. The record also clinched the sixth-consecutive non-losing season, the longest current streak in C-USA.
Four seniors return for their final season, led by Chantelle Handy and Alyssa Hammond. Handy showed an improved scoring touch last season, hitting double figures 19 times, including a career-high 25 points against East Carolina. She scored ten or more points just nine times in her first two seasons at Marshall.
Hammond is the leading returning scorer for the team, entering the season with 877 career points, just 123 short of the 1,000-point mark for her career. The other seniors include Angelica Harris and Kendra King, who returns after sitting out last season with an injury.
Another team leader for the Herd is junior Tynikki Crook. Crook was the team leader last season in points (13.5 PPG) and rebounds (7.6 RPG). She was named to the All-Conference USA Third Team in March and also made the All-Tournament Team for the second consecutive year. In six career C-USA Tournament games, Crook has recorded a double-double every time.
Newcomer Mystee Dale joins Crook as the only other junior on the team. The transfer from East Central (Miss.) Community College is expected to start for the Herd from the guard position to begin the season.
Along with the upperclassmen, six sophomores return while five freshmen will be looking to make an impact for the Thundering Herd this season.
In its lone preseason contest, the Herd downed West Virginia Wesleyan by a score of 73-41. Crook led all players with 15 points and nine rebounds. Handy chipped in ten points while three players scored eight, including Dale, Alaya Mitchell and Tania Walters.
A suffocating Marshall defense forced 34 Wesleyan turnovers. Walters forced seven while Mitchell was responsible for five.
Appalachian State also returns four starters from its 2008-09 squad, which posted a 9-22 mark. The Mountaineers' top returning scorer is Sam Ramirez, who scored an average of 10.6 PPG last season.
In their final exhibition game, ASU downed Lees-McRae, 108-61. Catherine Williams, a sophomore forward, led ASU with 22 points and 12 boards in the preseason win.
Last season, the teams squared off in Boone, N.C. to open the season. Marshall rallied for a 67-65 victory.
Several promotions will be taking place at the opener. The first 150 fans in attendance will receive a free long sleeve t-shirt, courtesy of WMUL. Marshall students are also encouraged to attend. Random students will be chosen at the game to have the opportunity to shoot for the chance to have their text books paid for a semester.
Tip is set for 7 p.m. in the Henderson Center. Marshall will have a quick turnaround following the opener, hosting Big East foe Seton Hall on Monday evening at 7 p.m.
