Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Memphis
Marshall Women Top Memphis For Second Straight Win
2/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 22, 2009
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Tynikki Crook recorded 22 points and 14 rebounds, both game highs, to lead the Thundering Herd women's basketball team to a 70-61 win over Memphis on Sunday afternoon at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
Crook finished 9-of-12 from the field and also recorded three assists. Alyssa Hammond scored 14 points while Chantelle Handy notched 13.
Marshall (14-13, 7-7 C-USA) started off hot, opening up a quick 6-2 advantage less than two minutes into the contest before Memphis (11-16, 4-10 C-USA) found its groove, coming back to grab an 11-10 lead. Thanks to a 4-6 start from the three-point line, the Tigers would see its lead grow to seven before pushing out to a nine-point lead, 27-19.
Alex Winchell had the hot hand for Memphis early on, hitting three treys and recording 11 out of the Tigers first 24 points. After a three by Paris Leonard put the Tigers up 27-19, the Herd defense held the Tigers to just two points and no field goals over the final 6:40 of the half while the offense would reel off 15 points.
Down by six with three minutes remaining in the half, consecutive buckets by Tynikki Crook, who tallied 13 points in the half, cut the Tiger lead to just two points before a three by Casey Baker put the Herd back on top, 30-29. Two free throws by Alyssa Hammond followed a Tania Walters lay-up that saw the Herd extend its lead to 34-29 at halftime.
The Herd kept the momentum going to open up the second period, scoring six of the first eight points to take a 40-31 lead. Crook's success in the first half carried over to the second as she scored four early points. Winchell's fourth three of the contest ended the run.
With Marshall up 42-34, five straight Tiger points, coupled with turnovers on three straight possessions by the Herd, got Memphis back within a possession, 42-39. The Herd was able to overcome the run and open up a 52-43 lead as five different players scored.
The three ball kept Memphis close as Ramses Lonlack and Leonard hit back-to-back treys to make it a five-point game before a spurt by the herd helped it open its largest advantage of the game at 63-51. Chantelle Handy scored six in the run. Memphis did not relent, scoring the next seven points to cut the lead to five, 63-58. It also held the Herd scoreless over a five-minute span before a bucket by Handy with 1:27 remaining pushed the lead back to seven. Memphis cut the lead to five, but a perfect 6-6 showing from the charity stripe in the final minute cemented the win for the Herd.
The Herd was dominant in almost every category, outrebounding the Tigers 34-26 and outshooting the Tigers, .574-.368. Both teams struggled with turnovers as Memphis committed 24 and Marshall turned the ball over 21 times.
Lonlack led Memphis with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Winchell scored 14.
Marshall will return home for its final games of the regular season next weekend. On Thursday at 7 p.m., the Herd will play host to Houston before closing out the regular season against Rice on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.
