Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Houston
Houston Takes 67-58 Win Over Herd Women
2/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Chantelle Handy scored 21 points, but Houston responded with four double-digit scorers to grab a 67-58 win over the Marshall University women's basketball team in Conference USA action Thursday evening at the Cam Henderson Center.
Houston (18-9, 10-5 C-USA) never trailed in the contest, leading by as many as 15 points in the second half. The Thundering Herd (14-14, 7-8 C-USA) rallied to get within six points late, but the Cougars were able to hold off the rally.
"Against a really good team, you can't make two or three mistakes per person that gives up a field goal and that was what we did," Marshall head coach Royce Chadwick said following the game. "I thought we had to really fight back in the second half to try and get ourselves back into the game. I give our girls credit because they did just that and they fought especially hard to get themselves back into the game."
The first part of the game was a defensive struggle as Marshall mustered up just six points through the first 12 minutes. After scoring its sixth point on an Alaya Mitchell free throw with 14:29 left in the half, the Herd was held scoreless for almost seven minutes as Houston reeled off nine straight to open up a 15-6 advantage.
Marshall quickly turned it around as Chantelle Handy hit two straight jumpers to close the game to 15-10 before the Cougars stormed back to take a double-digit lead, 29-19, with just over a minute left in the half. Cobilyn Hill and Brittney Scott each scored six points in the run before three points to finish the half by Handy made it a 31-23 game at the half.
Handy opened up the second half right where she left off, scoring on a jumper a minute into the half to cut the lead to six, 31-25, but a 19-10 stretch by Houston pushed its lead to 15, the largest advantage it would enjoy all game. Courtney Taylor, the No. 3 scorer in C-USA, scored six in the run on her way to 16 points for the game.
With Houston up 54-41 with 6:27 left in the contest, Marshall made ones last effort to get back in the game. A three by Casey Baker began a 6-0 run that saw the Cougar lead cut to seven. Two minutes later, with UH up 56-47, Baker struck again, connecting on another trey to cut the deficit to six points.
That would be as close as Marshall would get the rest of the way as the teams swapped points down the stretch before Houston settled for the nine-point win.
For only the third time in league play, Marshall was on the low end of the rebounding total as Houston finished with a 36-30 edge on the boards. The Cougars also topped the Herd in shooting, hitting 48.0% of its shots while holding MU to 37.9%.
Handy led all scorers with 21 points while Baker notched 13. She also had five boards and four assists. Tynikki Crook fell just short of her second consecutive double-double, scoring eight points to go along with nine rebounds.
Scott and Taylor led Houston with 16 points. Cobilyn Hill scored 13 while grabbing nine boards and blocking six Marshall shots. Porsche Landry chipped in 11.
Marshall will close out the regular season on Saturday as it welcomes the Rice Owls to the Cam Henderson Center at 3 p.m. It will mark the first game of a doubleheader with the men's team, who faces UCF at 7 p.m. Marshall senior Casey Baker will be honored prior to Saturday's game.
The 2009 Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship is set to get underway on March 5-8 in New Orleans. For the past 13 years the league has awarded the championship trophy to eight different outstanding teams. Fans may purchase their tickets in advance by going through their local institution or Tulane Athletics at tulanegreenwave.com or 504.861.WAVE (9283). General admission All Session tickets are $50 for adults and $40 for youth, while Single Session prices are $10 for adults and $7 for youth.
