Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Northern Kentucky (First Round)
Herd Wins Thriller at NKU in WBI Opener
3/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats| Photo Gallery (Credit: @KodyKahle11)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. -- Marshall's Leah Scott had career-high 26 points and eight assists and McKenzie Akers buried a career-high six 3-pointers as the eighth-seeded Thundering Herd nipped top-seeded Northern Kentucky 81-79 Thursday evening in WBI action at The Bank of Kentucky Center.
The win gave Marshall (17-14) its first postseason win in the NCAA era, while NKU finished its season at 19-14.
The Herd will travel to Macon, Ga. to face Mercer on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET in second-round play in a contest that, like Thursday, will also air on ESPN3.
Scott made 11 of 16 field goal attempts and also posted three steals. All of Akers' points came on the threes (18 points). The Herd got a big lift off the bench from Enjonae Chambers as she also had a career day. The Conway, Ark. native went 5-for-5 from the field, including 3-for-3 from 3-point range for 13 points in just 17 minutes of action.
All of those efforts overcame a stellar performance from the Norse, who got an insane effort from Kasey Uetrecht, who made 11 of her 12 shots, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range for 26 points. Melody Doss also made 10-of-17 attempts and five more 3-pointers for 25 points. Rianna Gayheart had eight assists and Doss had three steals.
NKU jumped out to the quick 10-4 lead, but Marshall responded with two layups by Aja Sorrells and an Akers bomb to take an 11-10 lead just over five minutes into the game. Marshall had the lead at five (23-18) on a Scott free throw at the 9:40 mark, but the home team fought back with a 22-8 run to secure a 10-point lead (40-30) on a Uetrecht layup at the 2:45 mark. Chambers gave the Herd a boost, though, as she had a steal and buzzer-beating jumper to pull the Herd within 43-37 at the break.
Akers and Scott hit 3-pointers to start the second half to even the game at 43-all, before NKU erupted on a 10-0 run to snare a 55-45 lead on a Doss jumper with 14:47 left.
The lead was still 10 (61-51) at the 11:55 mark when Marshall ripped off a 17-5 run to grab a 68-66 lead on a Scott steal and fast-break layup.
NKU edged back ahead 70-68, but Marshall had another run ready and went off on a 9-2 spurt this time as Johnson hit a jumper with three minutes left to give the visitors a 77-70 lead.
The Norse answered with six-straight points on pull within one (77-76) on a Christine Roush layup with 45 seconds left. That's when Johnson hit a huge 3-pointer from the top of key, only to see Uetrecht answer immediately with a 3-pointer of her own to cut Marshall's lead to 80-79 with nine seconds left.
NKU fouled Scott on the ensuing inbounds pass, and the Detroit native made one of two free throws to give the Herd a two-point lead. She fouled Mikayla Terry on the missed free throw with four seconds left, but NKU was not in the bonus. That forced NKU to inbound the ball from three-quarter court. The Norse got the ball inbounds but never got off a clean look as time expired.
Marshall's Chelsey Romero had six rebounds to lead a 30-28 Marshall team rebounding edge.
The shooting for both teams was uncanny at times. Marshall finished 32-for-56 (57.1%) from the field, including a 12-for-21 clip (57.1%) from 3-points range. The 12 3-pointers and 81 points were the most for the program against any Division I opponent this season.
NKU made 32 of its 60 attempts (53.3%), including 12-for-29 from long-range (41.4%). The Herd did a great job keeping the Norse off the free throw line, where it made 76.9 percent during the season, the nation's ninth-best figure. NKU made three of just six attempts Thursday.
