Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Middle Tennessee
Thundering Herd Run Falls Short in Conference USA Semifinals
3/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Middle Tennessee's Alex Johnson scored a game-high 22 points to power the second-seeded Blue Raiders to a 69-41 win over sixth-seeded Marshall Friday afternoon at Legacy Arena.
Middle improved to 23-8 overall and will face ODU (17-16) Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in the league's title game. The fifth-seeded Lady Monarchs (17-16) knocked off top-seeded UTEP (26-4) 66-54 in Friday's first semifinal. The Thundering Herd dropped to 21-11 overall after a stirring run, which included a 66-63 quarterfinal victory over third-seeded WKU Thursday evening,
Abbey Sissom added 10 for Middle, while star Brea Edwards was held to eight points on 2-for-9 shooting, but had 14 rebounds. Point guard Ty Petty finished the game with nine points, six assists and five steals. Rebecca Reuter added three blocks on the defensive end.
Marshall was led by 13 points from Kiana Evans and she and Chelsey Romero notched six rebounds apiece. Leah Scott had four assists, while Romero's three blocks led the defensive effort.
The Thundering Herd got out to an early 7-2 lead in the game's first 90 seconds, all by Evans, who hit two layups and a 3-pointer. Romero gave Marshall a 15-11 lead when she stuck a jumper at the 3:55 mark of the first quarter but the Blue Raiders ripped off a 13-0 run to take a 24-15 lead they would never relinquish.
The Thundering Herd battled subpar shooting and foul trouble to Scott and Talequia Hamilton throughout the day to go with an ankle injury at the end of the first quarter that slowed point guard Norrisha Victrum.
Marshall made just one of its 15 3-point attempts and were turned over by the Blue Raiders 22 times against just six assists. The Herd also had an uncharacteristically bad day at the free throw line (8-for-19, 42.1%).
"What a run we have been on so far," said Marshall coach Matt Daniel. "I hate that we didn't have it today, but I don't believe our season is over. I believe our body of work speaks for itself in earning a bid for postseason play."
"I'm very proud of our group for everything it has accomplished so far."
The Blue Raiders finished the game with 18 assists and 12 steals, which helped fuel a 23-12 advantage in points off turnovers.
Victrum now needs five points to become the 20th player to reach 1,000 career points in program history. Romero's three blocks gave her 117 for her career and into fourth place on the school's career list.
