Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UAB
Herd Women End Streak, Top UAB 67-50
2/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Chantelle Handy scored 14 points as the Thundering Herd women's basketball team ended its six-game losing streak, topping UAB,67-50, in Conference USA action Friday evening at Bartow Arena.
Up by two at the half, Marshall (13-13, 6-7 C-USA) outscored UAB (10-16, 5-8 C-USA) 41-26 in the second half to cap the win.
The difference in the second half was the Herd offense. Following a defensive battle in the first half, where MU held a .310-.226 shooting advantage, the Herd shot .611 in the second half.
In the first half, a defensive battle ensued with Marshall taking a 26-24 lead to the locker room. Defense was especially prevalent early on, with the teams combining to hit just five of their first 26 shots.
With UAB holding a 6-5 edge four minutes into the contest, the defense of the Herd held the Blazers without a point for over six minutes while scoring the next seven points to grab a 12-6 lead. Chantelle Handy had the hot hand to start, recording six of the Herd's first 12 tallies.
Up 14-11 midway through the half, Marshall added to its lead, scoring the next five points on its way to a 19-11 lead, its largest to that point.
The UAB offense got in its groove over the last five minutes of the period. The Blazers managed just 11 points in the first 15 minutes of the half, but more than doubled that over the final minutes. A three by Tania Walters with the shot clock running out put Marshall up 24-17, but a 7-2 run by UAB to finish the period made it just a two point game at the half.
Marshall's defense kept up the intensity in the second half, holding the Blazers without a field goal over the first 4:32 of the second stanza. While the defense did its job, the offense made its run, primarily utilizing the free throw line early on. The Herd's first six points of the half came via the charity stripe.
Keona Brooks hit the first field goal of the half for either team at the 15:47 mark to put MU up 34-25. Conference USA's leading scorer, Britney Jones, ended the run, drilling her third trey of the contest, ending an 0-for-7 start to the half for the Blazers.
At the 13:53 mark, MU held a 36-30 advantage and quickly added to it, scoring the next five to go up 41-30, the first double-digit lead of the game for either squad. Following Brooks' eight point of the half, Alix Barnette hit a three to cap the run.
UAB stormed right back reeling off the next seven points to cut the lead to four, 41-37. Over its recent six-game winless streak, the Herd has been victimized by second-half runs by its opponents, but the team fought back against the Blazers.
After UAB cut the deficit to four, the Herd embarked on a 13-4 run to reestablish its double-digit advantage. It was a team effort with five players contributing to the run, led by Tynikki Crook's four points. With four minutes left, Walters knocked down two free throws to put MU up 56-42, setting a new high for its largest lead of the game.
UAB scored the next four points to cut the lead to ten, but it was not enough as Marshall pulled away for the 17-point win.
Keona Brook and Alix Barnette notched 11 points apiece. For Barnette, it marked her fourth straight double-digit outing, a career best. Alyssa Hammond and Tania Walters each scored ten.
Jones led UAB with 15 points while Amanda Peterson scored 14.
Another major factor in the win for the Herd was its dominance on the glass. Up 24-22 in that category at the half, MU outrebounded UAB 20-9 in the second half. It was especially solid on the defensive side, grabbing 29 boards on that end while holding UAB to 17.
On Sunday, the Herd will return to action, facing Memphis at 3 p.m. Next weekend, the team will play its final two games of the regular season. On Thursday, Marshall will welcome Houston at 7 p.m. before squaring off against Rice on Saturday at 3 p.m. on Senior Day. Both games will take place at the Cam Henderson Center.
