Marshall University Athletics
Women's Basketball Opens Up C-USA Play
1/3/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2012
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - After opening the season with a 9-3 record and finishing the month of December with a 6-1 run, Marshall begins the new year by opening up Conference USA play in a clash against Houston on the road this Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The Herd has started the 2011-12 season with best record since opening up the 2003-04 season with a 10-3 standing. In the New Year's Eve victory over Ball State, the Herd matched their total wins from last year (9) and look to continue their success in the first league match-up of the season against the Cougars.
The contest against Houston will be the eighth meeting between the two programs, while Marshall holds a 4-3 advantage in the all-time series.
In their last game, Marshall came from behind in the final four minutes to overcome Ball State on the road and claim a 60-58 win. Jasmine Shaw led with 12 points, while Erica Woods dominated the glass by grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds. Alyse Poindexter also had a big game in the blocks after posting four blocked shots.
Shaw leads the team in points per game with 8.5 and continues to be effective in the field with a 49.3 percent average for the year. Erica Woods follows with 7.5 points per game and leads the team in rebounds with 8.3, while holding a 7.5 rebound per game mark. On defense, freshman guard Victoria Wells tallies 29 steals and senior guard Alaya Mitchell combines for 28. Leandra King claims 16 blocked shots and Poindexter follows with 14.
Houston holds a 1-11 record for the season. Their lone win of the year came against Houston Baptist in early December. Roxana Button runs the show for the Cougars with 233 total points for the year. She averages 19.4 points per game. The next closer player in points for Houston is Amanda Lawson with 68. Button also is tied for first on the team in steals with 17 and has a team-high 23 assists. On the glass, Terran Alford has posted 87 rebounds, with 36 of the boards being offensive.
The contest will be available through live audio on WMUL 88.1 FM or online at www.marshall.edu/wmul. To follow the game through live stats or live video, visit the women's basketball schedule on www.herdzone.com for more information.
