Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
FIU
Herd Blasts FIU to Advance in Conference USA Tournament
3/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Sixth-seeded Marshall hit 12 3-pointers, including eight in the first half, to drub 14th-seeded FIU 76-44 Wednesday evening at Bartow Arena.
The Thundering Herd improved to 20-10 with the win, the first time the program has reached 20 wins in 25 years (20-8, 1990-91), and will face third-seeded WKU Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 CT in a game that will be carried on American Sports Network and streamed live on AmericanSportsNet.com.
FIU dropped to 5-26.
"I'm very excited for our team and our seniors," said Marshall coach Matt Daniel. "The history they have made and continue to make is quite monumental if you have the ability to step back and look at the big picture."
"Learning that it has been 25 years since a 20-win season here puts things in perspective, especially considering the other things to look at with the type of student-athletes we have accumulated on this roster. It's too big of an accomplishment for me to express with heavy-handed words. I'm very proud of our team and program."
Leah Scott led four players in double figures with 18 points (3-4 on 3-pointers) to go with a game-high nine rebounds. Shayna Gore added 13 points off the bench, which outscored the Panthers 24-7. Talequia Hamilton (5-for-5 shooting) and Kiana Evans notched 10 as well.
Point guard Norrisha Victrum added eight assists, tying Casey Baker's mark against Tulane on March 6, 2008, for most Marshall single-game assists in the Conference USA Tournament.
The 12 3-pointers set a new team mark in the tournament, besting the eight set against Memphis (March 5, 2009) and again versus UTEP (March 13, 2013). Wednesday's margin of victory (32 points) also set a program record, topping the aforementioned 19-point win (76-57) of Memphis.
Marshall also had 22 assists against just nine turnovers Wednesday and outrebounded the Panthers 42-29.
FIU was led by 11 points from Janka Hegedus and 10 by Nikolina Todorovic. Kristian Hudson and Brianna Wright had six rebounds apiece and Taylor Shade had five assists.
Marshall did an excellent job limiting the production by Shade and Hudson, who combined to make just four of 32 shots, including one of 14 from 3-point range.
The Thundering Herd led wire-to-wire in this one, outscoring FIU 29-12 in the first quarter. Marshall took a 44-21 lead into the locker room and the lead never fell below 19 in the second half.
Marshall also held a commanding edge in points off turnovers (17-3) and fast break points (10-0).
Scott now has 1,332 career points and moves into sixth place on the program's scoring list, past Sheila Johnson (1,326, 1987-91). Victrum is 15 points shy of becoming the program's 20th 1,000-point scorer and two assists away from moving into fourth on the school's all-time list, past Melissa Simms (386, 1990-94).
Marshall now turns its attention to the Lady Hilltoppers, who defeated the Thundering Herd 81-52 on Jan. 2 in Bowling Green and 80-76 in Huntington on Feb. 14. The Lady Hilltoppers were without the services of first-team All-Conference USA standout Tashia Brown at Marshall as she missed the contest with what the team announced was a concussion suffered in practice leading up to the game.
