Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Old Dominion
@HerdWBB Comeback Falls Short as Simms Nets 43
1/5/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats
NORFOLK, Va. -- ODU star Jennie Simms set a new facility record with 43 points and powered the host Lady Monarchs to a 73-69 win over hard-charging Marshall Friday evening at the Ted Constant Center.
The total was just two off her career-high of 45 set at FIU nearly two years ago.
With the win, ODU improved to 7-7 overall and 2-1 in Conference USA, while Marshall dropped to 10-4 and 2-1, snapping a five-game winning streak.
Simms went 14-for-22 from the floor, 6-for-8 from 3-point range and 9-for-10 from the free throw line in a 40-minute effort. Destinee Young came into the game averaging a double-double (11.0 points, 11.0 rebounds), but was held to four points and nine rebounds. Ashley Jackson and MaKayla Timmons added four assists.
Simms has shot .285 from the 3-point arc (59-for-207) over the past two seasons, but has drilled nine of 13 attempts (.692) against the Thundering Herd in the Constant Center in its last two trips to Norfolk.
Marshall senior guard Kiana Evans (Huntington, W.Va.) did set a new career-high with 24 points on 10-for-15 shooting, topping the 23 she had earlier this season versus Coastal Carolina. Sophomore guard Shayna Gore (Logan, W.Va.) had 15 points, five assists and three steals, while senior forward Talequia Hamilton (Huntington, W.Va.) had 10. Sophomore forward Khadaijia Brooks (Bristol, Ct.) led the team with six rebounds.
The Lady Monarchs led by 14 (44-30) at the half and held a 15-point lead (64-49) on a banked-in Simms 3-pointer as the shot clock hit zero with 7:19 to go. From there, Marshall gradually nibbled away at the margin and got it as close as three (72-69) on a Gore three-point play with 14 seconds left. However, Simms answered with a free throw and Marshall missed at its end to account for the final margin.
ODU held considerable advantages in second-chance points (14-5), a category where Marshall had an edge in its last six games, bench points (18-9) and free throws (13-for-16 to 4-for-9).
"We were a bit out of character of the maturity we have shown recently," said Marshall coach Matt Daniel. "We were more the team we expect to have every night in the second half. The good news is every time I have challenged them individually or collectively, they have responded. While I have no idea the outcomes of games coming our way, I expect that we will learn from this, respond, and be better for it Saturday and beyond. Experience is the best teacher."
The Thundering Herd will be back in action Saturday at Charlotte (11-3, 2-0) at 2 p.m. The game was moved up from 7 p.m. due to the potential for inclement weather in the Charlotte area. The 49ers knocked off Western Kentucky 89-85 in overtime.
