Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Tulsa
Marshall Wins Second Straight Outlasting Tulsa 53-46
2/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2011
TULSA, Okla. - Marshall's Tynikki Crook earned her 30th career double-double to go along with Veronica Ruiz's season-high 14 points as the Thundering Herd defeated Tulsa 53-46 in Sunday afternoon's women's basketball Conference USA matchup at the Donald W. Reynolds Center. Crook concluded the afternoon with 22 points, while chipping in 13 boards, three steals, one block and one assist.
Crook's 13 rebounds moved her into fourth place all-time with 838 rebounds surpassing Modupe Ishola's (2003-07) 835 career boards.
MU (8-18, 4-9 C-USA) has won two straight for the first time since January of last season and won three of its last five. TU falls to 5-16 on the season and 1-12 in conference play.
With Marshall's starting forwards continuing where they left off against UAB, Crook and Ruiz accounted for eight early points to help the Herd break out to a 15-3 advantage.
Taleya Mayberry broke a 4:17 Golden Hurricane scoring drought with a pair of jumpers. Mayberry kept Tulsa going scoring the last six TU points for 10 first half points.
Crook and Ruiz combined for 19 points and 13 rebounds on eight-of-18 shooting from the floor, as the Thundering Herd took a 27-15 lead into the break.
Tulsa pulled itself within five at 36-31, following a 12-4 run during a 3:18 span, thanks in large part to Denise Lewis's eight consecutive points. The Thundering Herd with a pair of jumpers by Ruiz and Crook.
Virginia Deware awoke in the second half, scoring 12 of her 14 points in the second stanza. Her free throw jumper with 4:50 on the clock brought the Golden Hurricane back within striking distance at 46-41.
The Thundering Herd despite shooting four-of-nine from the free throw line in the closing minutes 2:26, MU held on for its fourth straight win against TU.
"We are excited to get the win," head coach Royce Chadwick said. "We played good defense in spurts and in the second half we played good enough to close the deal. I was proud of the fact that we were on the road and not everything was falling in our direction but the kids kept fighting. We are growing in maturity and I am proud of the effort to fight through the tough times."
Mayberry ended the afternoon with 12 points while Lewis chipped in 11 points in the losing effort.
MU returns home to take on first place Houston on Thursday night at the Cam Henderson Center. The Cougars are unbeaten in conference play and clinched at least a share of the C-USA regular season title with its win against Tulsa this past Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., at the Cam Henderson Center.
