Marshall University Athletics
Thursday, January 16
Charlotte, NC
7:00 PM
Marshall University
at
Charlotte
Ashley Saintigene
Women’s Basketball Faces 49ers Thursday in Charlotte
1/15/2020 7:37:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game tips at 7 p.m.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Marshall women's basketball team (7-8 overall, 2-2 Conference USA) will travel to Charlotte (10-4, 1-2) on Thursday. Tip time at Halton Arena is set for 7 p.m.
Game Details
Live Stats
Live Video
Marshall Radio (Jason Corriher on WMUL)
Game Notes
Series History: 14th all-time meeting – Charlotte leads 11-2
Last Meeting: Jan. 5, 2019 in Huntington – Marshall won 63-62
Scouting the 49ers
Charlotte comes into Thursday's game sporting a 10-4 overall record with a 2-1 mark in league play. The 49ers are led by Jade Phillips, who averages a double-double (15.7 points, 10.0 rebounds). That rebounding mark places her second in the league's individual stats, as are her 7.1 defensive boards. Mariah Linney dishes 3.3 assists and records 1.3 steals per contest. Christian Hithe (44.0 percent) and Octavia Jett-Wilson (41.2) are the team's top perimeter threats, while Hithe is the league's top free throw shooter, having missed just two (28-for-30) in 2019-20.
Charlotte was picked sixth in the league's preseason poll. The 49ers led for most of Saturday's game at Old Dominion, before falling 54-51 as the Monarchs pulled ahead in the game's final 70 seconds.
The 49ers lead the league in field goal percentage (42.4), but is 12th in the conference in 3-point percentage defense (33.2) and steals (6.6).
Last Time Out: Jan. 11 vs. UAB (W, 61-56)
Marshall's women's basketball team got double-digit scoring efforts from Taylor Pearson and Savannah Wheeler while locking down UAB star Rachael Childress in a 61-56 victory Saturday afternoon at the Cam Henderson Center.
The win improved Marshall's overall record to 7-8 overall and 2-2 in the league, while UAB fell to 9-7 and 1-3 in the league.
Pearson scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Wheeler tossed in 15 points (8-for-8 on free throws) to the lead the offensive effort. Ashley Saintigene grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and had three blocks. Khadaijia Brooks led the Herd in assists with four.
The Thundering Herd's perimeter defenders hounded Childress into a dreadful 2-for-17 performance from the field, including 1-for-8 from the 3-point arc. The Rogersville, Alabama native, who is Conference USA's all-time leader with 372 career 3-pointers, entered the game also leading the league in scoring this season at 17.7 per clip. On Saturday, she managed just 10. She was tied atop the Blazers' scoring column with Miyah Barnes, while Angela Vendrell had a nice all-around performance with nine points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
Marshall jumped out to a 15-11 lead after one quarter and refused to surrender the advantage for the rest of the game. The Thundering Herd led the contest for 33 minutes, 20 seconds and the affair was tied for five minutes, 37 ticks. Vendrell connected on a triple to tie the game at 44 with 6:14 left, but the Thundering Herd came right back with a Kristen Mayo layup and three points from Princess Clemons to push the margin back to five with 4:18 to go. From there, Marshall made the most of its free throw opportunities and held on for the victory.
The Thundering Herd led on points in the paint (28-16), while UAB had the edge on bench points (19-10).
"Obviously, that was a good win for us," said head coach Tony Kemper. "It was a good bounceback from (Thursday's loss to Middle Tennessee). I've been on them since then because I just didn't think we played that game with much passion and, maybe, belief that we were coming into that game to win. We definitely responded on that front, exactly in the fashion that I wanted to."
"Today's game was won with defense against, arguably, the best offensive team in our league. The job that Kristen Mayo, Kia Sivils and Taylor Pearson did, not to mention the rest of our team on random ball screens and switches relative to defending Childress was phenomenal. That 2-for-17, that's as good as she can be guarded."
Wheeler Attacks
Since entering the starting lineup at North Texas on January 4, Savannah Wheeler has gotten to the free throw line 28 times in those last three games, making 25 for 89.2 percent. In her previous 12 games, she got to the charity stripe just 38 times (3.2 per contest).
Leading and Leading Late
Marshall is 7-1 this season when leading at the half and 6-1 when leading with five minutes left in regulation. Since the beginning of last season, the Thundering Herd is 20-6 when leading at the break and 20-3 when leading at the five-minute mark.
Hitting the Glass, Controlling the Paint
The Thundering Herd is 14-4 since the start of last season when it outrebounds the opposition and 16-3 when it scores more in the paint.
Season-Highs
Ashley Saintigene (9), Kristen Mayo (7) and Kia Sivils (5) all set or tied season-highs in the rebounding column during the 61-56 win over UAB. Khadaijia Brooks (4) also tied her season mark in assists.
Block Party
Senior Ashley Saintigene has returned to the Herd lineup with a vengeance this season on the defensive side. The senior has swatted 43 shots in 14 games to start the year. She has rejected at least one shot in each game and has had two or more in 13 contests. Her season-high thus far is five in a win over Coppin State (11/19). Saintigene is currently eighth in the NCAA in blocks per game (3.1). As a team, Marshall is 15th in the country in blocks per game (5.5).
The Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., native is fourth all-time in program history in blocked shots with 124 and her 43 this season ties her for sixth in Marshall's single-season records. She became the seventh player to hit the century mark with her third and final block at Evansville. Saintigene had an excellent start to her career with 42 blocks (1.45 per game) in her freshman season, seventh-most in Marshall history. She tallied just 22 her sophomore season as she only played in 12 games (1.83 per game) after suffering an injury. Saintigene came back to the Herd briefly in 2018-19 playing in just nine games before re-aggravating the injury, but still came away with 17 more swats (1.89 per game). The Herd record for most in a season is 117 by Sharon Deal in 1988-89. Deal averaged 4.2 per game which is still a Southern Conference record. Deal is also Marshall's all-time leader with 188 in a career that spanned just two seasons (1987-89).
Marshall's Single-Season Blocks Leaders
1. 117 - Sharon Deal - 1988-89
2. 71 - Sharon Deal - 1987-88
3. 54 - Chelsey Romero - 2013-14
54 - Talequia Hamilton - 2016-17
5. 49 - Tynikki Crook - 2008-09
6. 43 - Talequia Hamilton - 2017-18
43 - Ashley Saintigene - 2019-20
8. 42 - Ashley Saintigene - 2016-17
9. 40 - Modupe Ishola - 2006-07
40 - Tynikki Crook - 2009-10
40 - Leandra King - 2012-13
40 - Chukwuka Ezeigbo - 2013-14
Marshall's Career Blocks Leaders
1. 188 - Sharon Deal (1987-89)
2. 153 - Tynikki Crook (2007-11)
3. 135 - Talequia Hamilton (2015-18)
4. 124 - Ashley Saintigene (2016-Pres.)
5. 119 - Modupe Ishola (2003-07)
119 - Chelsey Romero (2013-16)
7. 115 - Chukwuka Ezeigbo (2011-15)
8. 91 - Chris McClurkin (1984-88)
9. 87 - Lisa Pruner (1980-84)
10. 71 - Tammy Simms (1986-87)
**Khadaijia Brooks currently has 66.**
Marshall's Career Field Goal Percentage Leaders (min. 200 attempts)
1. Modupe Ishola (57.4, 448-781), 2003-07
2. Chukwuka Eziegbo (55.4, 357-644), 2011-15
3. Kim Shepherd (52.2, 190-364), 1983-1985
4. Talequia Hamilton (50.9, 416-818), 2015-18
5. Chris McClurkin (50.8, 291-573), 1984-88
6. Tammy Simms (50.7, 292-576), 1986-88
7. Karen Pelphrey (50.5, 1175-2328), 1982-86
8. Ashley Saintigene (50.2, 157-313), 2016-Pres.
9. Kristina Behnfeldt (49.5, 664-1341), 1995-99
10. Jenette Reed (49.2, 126-256), 1989-93
Marshall's Career Free Throw Percentage Leaders (min. 100 attempts)
1. Taylor Porter (83.7, 144-172), 2015-19
2. Kristina Behnfeldt (82.0, 728-888), 1995-99
3. Shayna Gore (81.2, 336-411), 2015-19
4. Jenny Leavitt (80.7, 205-254), 1985-89
5. Kristen Mayo (80.2, 85-106), 2017-Pres.
6. Lee Ann Parsley (79.5, 263-331), 1986-90
7. Reshundra Smiley (79.4, 85-107), 2004-06
8. Karen Pelphrey (78.4, 396-505), 1982-86
9. Kim Lewis (77.8, 161-207), 1984-88
10. Catie Knable (76.1, 239-314), 2000-04
Ranked in the NCAA
Marshall is ranked in the top 70 in the NCAA in several categories.
15th in blocks per game - 5.8 (leads C-USA)
18th in total blocks - 84 (leads C-USA)
26th in field goal percentage defense - 35.2%
51st in rebounds per game - 41.7
53rd in fewest turnovers - 214 (leads C-USA)
64th in 3-point field goals per game - 7.4
66th in fewest turnovers per game - 14.3
Ashley Saintigene is eighth in blocks per game (3.1)
Ashley Saintigene is 13th in total blocks (43)
Savannah Wheeler is 45th in free throw percentage (84.8)
Notable Active Herd Streaks: (last game without stat in parentheses)
Taylor Pearson 48-straight games with a rebound (2/17/18 at WKU)
Khadaijia Brooks 39-straight games with a point (12/4/18 at Wisconsin)
Taylor Pearson 37-straight games with a point (12/4/18 at Wisconsin)
Kristen Mayo 35-straight games with a point (12/18/18 at Clemson)
Ashley Saintigene 32-straight games with rebound (11/19/17 at Cleveland State)
Khadaijia Brooks 30-straight starts (1/17/19 at FAU)
Ashley Saintgene 14-straight games with a block (12/29/18 vs. Delaware State, *last game played of 2018-19*)
A Great Start
Freshman Savannah Wheeler got off to a great beginning to her Marshall career scoring 18 points in her collegiate debut against Kentucky Christian, then adding 19 more versus Norfolk State. Wheeler was named Conference USA Freshman of the Week after scoring 37 combined points on 13-of-18 (72.2 percent) shooting from the field and 7-of-10 (70 percent) from three. She also tallied four steals against KCU. She is at 188 points for the season, averaging 12.5 per game. She got the first start of her career at North Texas (1/4) and responded by scoring 17 points. For the season, she is averaging 26.8 minutes per contest.
Up Next
Marshall will travel to Old Dominion on Saturday (2 p.m.).
For all of the latest information on the Marshall women's basketball team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdWBB, Facebook at Marshall University Basketball and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Game Details
Live Stats
Live Video
Marshall Radio (Jason Corriher on WMUL)
Game Notes
Series History: 14th all-time meeting – Charlotte leads 11-2
Last Meeting: Jan. 5, 2019 in Huntington – Marshall won 63-62
Scouting the 49ers
Charlotte comes into Thursday's game sporting a 10-4 overall record with a 2-1 mark in league play. The 49ers are led by Jade Phillips, who averages a double-double (15.7 points, 10.0 rebounds). That rebounding mark places her second in the league's individual stats, as are her 7.1 defensive boards. Mariah Linney dishes 3.3 assists and records 1.3 steals per contest. Christian Hithe (44.0 percent) and Octavia Jett-Wilson (41.2) are the team's top perimeter threats, while Hithe is the league's top free throw shooter, having missed just two (28-for-30) in 2019-20.
Charlotte was picked sixth in the league's preseason poll. The 49ers led for most of Saturday's game at Old Dominion, before falling 54-51 as the Monarchs pulled ahead in the game's final 70 seconds.
The 49ers lead the league in field goal percentage (42.4), but is 12th in the conference in 3-point percentage defense (33.2) and steals (6.6).
Last Time Out: Jan. 11 vs. UAB (W, 61-56)
Marshall's women's basketball team got double-digit scoring efforts from Taylor Pearson and Savannah Wheeler while locking down UAB star Rachael Childress in a 61-56 victory Saturday afternoon at the Cam Henderson Center.
The win improved Marshall's overall record to 7-8 overall and 2-2 in the league, while UAB fell to 9-7 and 1-3 in the league.
Pearson scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Wheeler tossed in 15 points (8-for-8 on free throws) to the lead the offensive effort. Ashley Saintigene grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and had three blocks. Khadaijia Brooks led the Herd in assists with four.
The Thundering Herd's perimeter defenders hounded Childress into a dreadful 2-for-17 performance from the field, including 1-for-8 from the 3-point arc. The Rogersville, Alabama native, who is Conference USA's all-time leader with 372 career 3-pointers, entered the game also leading the league in scoring this season at 17.7 per clip. On Saturday, she managed just 10. She was tied atop the Blazers' scoring column with Miyah Barnes, while Angela Vendrell had a nice all-around performance with nine points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
Marshall jumped out to a 15-11 lead after one quarter and refused to surrender the advantage for the rest of the game. The Thundering Herd led the contest for 33 minutes, 20 seconds and the affair was tied for five minutes, 37 ticks. Vendrell connected on a triple to tie the game at 44 with 6:14 left, but the Thundering Herd came right back with a Kristen Mayo layup and three points from Princess Clemons to push the margin back to five with 4:18 to go. From there, Marshall made the most of its free throw opportunities and held on for the victory.
The Thundering Herd led on points in the paint (28-16), while UAB had the edge on bench points (19-10).
"Obviously, that was a good win for us," said head coach Tony Kemper. "It was a good bounceback from (Thursday's loss to Middle Tennessee). I've been on them since then because I just didn't think we played that game with much passion and, maybe, belief that we were coming into that game to win. We definitely responded on that front, exactly in the fashion that I wanted to."
"Today's game was won with defense against, arguably, the best offensive team in our league. The job that Kristen Mayo, Kia Sivils and Taylor Pearson did, not to mention the rest of our team on random ball screens and switches relative to defending Childress was phenomenal. That 2-for-17, that's as good as she can be guarded."
Wheeler Attacks
Since entering the starting lineup at North Texas on January 4, Savannah Wheeler has gotten to the free throw line 28 times in those last three games, making 25 for 89.2 percent. In her previous 12 games, she got to the charity stripe just 38 times (3.2 per contest).
Leading and Leading Late
Marshall is 7-1 this season when leading at the half and 6-1 when leading with five minutes left in regulation. Since the beginning of last season, the Thundering Herd is 20-6 when leading at the break and 20-3 when leading at the five-minute mark.
Hitting the Glass, Controlling the Paint
The Thundering Herd is 14-4 since the start of last season when it outrebounds the opposition and 16-3 when it scores more in the paint.
Season-Highs
Ashley Saintigene (9), Kristen Mayo (7) and Kia Sivils (5) all set or tied season-highs in the rebounding column during the 61-56 win over UAB. Khadaijia Brooks (4) also tied her season mark in assists.
Block Party
Senior Ashley Saintigene has returned to the Herd lineup with a vengeance this season on the defensive side. The senior has swatted 43 shots in 14 games to start the year. She has rejected at least one shot in each game and has had two or more in 13 contests. Her season-high thus far is five in a win over Coppin State (11/19). Saintigene is currently eighth in the NCAA in blocks per game (3.1). As a team, Marshall is 15th in the country in blocks per game (5.5).
The Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., native is fourth all-time in program history in blocked shots with 124 and her 43 this season ties her for sixth in Marshall's single-season records. She became the seventh player to hit the century mark with her third and final block at Evansville. Saintigene had an excellent start to her career with 42 blocks (1.45 per game) in her freshman season, seventh-most in Marshall history. She tallied just 22 her sophomore season as she only played in 12 games (1.83 per game) after suffering an injury. Saintigene came back to the Herd briefly in 2018-19 playing in just nine games before re-aggravating the injury, but still came away with 17 more swats (1.89 per game). The Herd record for most in a season is 117 by Sharon Deal in 1988-89. Deal averaged 4.2 per game which is still a Southern Conference record. Deal is also Marshall's all-time leader with 188 in a career that spanned just two seasons (1987-89).
Marshall's Single-Season Blocks Leaders
1. 117 - Sharon Deal - 1988-89
2. 71 - Sharon Deal - 1987-88
3. 54 - Chelsey Romero - 2013-14
54 - Talequia Hamilton - 2016-17
5. 49 - Tynikki Crook - 2008-09
6. 43 - Talequia Hamilton - 2017-18
43 - Ashley Saintigene - 2019-20
8. 42 - Ashley Saintigene - 2016-17
9. 40 - Modupe Ishola - 2006-07
40 - Tynikki Crook - 2009-10
40 - Leandra King - 2012-13
40 - Chukwuka Ezeigbo - 2013-14
Marshall's Career Blocks Leaders
1. 188 - Sharon Deal (1987-89)
2. 153 - Tynikki Crook (2007-11)
3. 135 - Talequia Hamilton (2015-18)
4. 124 - Ashley Saintigene (2016-Pres.)
5. 119 - Modupe Ishola (2003-07)
119 - Chelsey Romero (2013-16)
7. 115 - Chukwuka Ezeigbo (2011-15)
8. 91 - Chris McClurkin (1984-88)
9. 87 - Lisa Pruner (1980-84)
10. 71 - Tammy Simms (1986-87)
**Khadaijia Brooks currently has 66.**
Marshall's Career Field Goal Percentage Leaders (min. 200 attempts)
1. Modupe Ishola (57.4, 448-781), 2003-07
2. Chukwuka Eziegbo (55.4, 357-644), 2011-15
3. Kim Shepherd (52.2, 190-364), 1983-1985
4. Talequia Hamilton (50.9, 416-818), 2015-18
5. Chris McClurkin (50.8, 291-573), 1984-88
6. Tammy Simms (50.7, 292-576), 1986-88
7. Karen Pelphrey (50.5, 1175-2328), 1982-86
8. Ashley Saintigene (50.2, 157-313), 2016-Pres.
9. Kristina Behnfeldt (49.5, 664-1341), 1995-99
10. Jenette Reed (49.2, 126-256), 1989-93
Marshall's Career Free Throw Percentage Leaders (min. 100 attempts)
1. Taylor Porter (83.7, 144-172), 2015-19
2. Kristina Behnfeldt (82.0, 728-888), 1995-99
3. Shayna Gore (81.2, 336-411), 2015-19
4. Jenny Leavitt (80.7, 205-254), 1985-89
5. Kristen Mayo (80.2, 85-106), 2017-Pres.
6. Lee Ann Parsley (79.5, 263-331), 1986-90
7. Reshundra Smiley (79.4, 85-107), 2004-06
8. Karen Pelphrey (78.4, 396-505), 1982-86
9. Kim Lewis (77.8, 161-207), 1984-88
10. Catie Knable (76.1, 239-314), 2000-04
Ranked in the NCAA
Marshall is ranked in the top 70 in the NCAA in several categories.
15th in blocks per game - 5.8 (leads C-USA)
18th in total blocks - 84 (leads C-USA)
26th in field goal percentage defense - 35.2%
51st in rebounds per game - 41.7
53rd in fewest turnovers - 214 (leads C-USA)
64th in 3-point field goals per game - 7.4
66th in fewest turnovers per game - 14.3
Ashley Saintigene is eighth in blocks per game (3.1)
Ashley Saintigene is 13th in total blocks (43)
Savannah Wheeler is 45th in free throw percentage (84.8)
Notable Active Herd Streaks: (last game without stat in parentheses)
Taylor Pearson 48-straight games with a rebound (2/17/18 at WKU)
Khadaijia Brooks 39-straight games with a point (12/4/18 at Wisconsin)
Taylor Pearson 37-straight games with a point (12/4/18 at Wisconsin)
Kristen Mayo 35-straight games with a point (12/18/18 at Clemson)
Ashley Saintigene 32-straight games with rebound (11/19/17 at Cleveland State)
Khadaijia Brooks 30-straight starts (1/17/19 at FAU)
Ashley Saintgene 14-straight games with a block (12/29/18 vs. Delaware State, *last game played of 2018-19*)
A Great Start
Freshman Savannah Wheeler got off to a great beginning to her Marshall career scoring 18 points in her collegiate debut against Kentucky Christian, then adding 19 more versus Norfolk State. Wheeler was named Conference USA Freshman of the Week after scoring 37 combined points on 13-of-18 (72.2 percent) shooting from the field and 7-of-10 (70 percent) from three. She also tallied four steals against KCU. She is at 188 points for the season, averaging 12.5 per game. She got the first start of her career at North Texas (1/4) and responded by scoring 17 points. For the season, she is averaging 26.8 minutes per contest.
Up Next
Marshall will travel to Old Dominion on Saturday (2 p.m.).
For all of the latest information on the Marshall women's basketball team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdWBB, Facebook at Marshall University Basketball and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Players Mentioned
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