Marshall University Athletics
Saturday, January 25
Huntington, W.Va.
1:00 PM
Marshall University
vs
WKU
Photo by: Sam Roberts/CLT Athletics
Women’s Basketball Hosts WKU on Saturday
1/24/2020 1:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Game tips at 1 p.m.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall women's basketball team (7-10 overall, 2-4 Conference USA) will host WKU (11-6, 3-3) on Saturday. Tip time at the Cam Henderson Center is set for 1 p.m. and the first 100 fans into the building will receive a free rally towel.
Game Details
Live Stats
Live Video
Marshall Radio
Game Notes
Series History: 14th all-time meeting – WKU leads 12-1
Last Meeting: February 23, 2019 in Huntington – WKU won 69-66 in overtime
Scouting the Lady Hilltoppers
WKU comes into Saturday's game following a 60-56 road victory over Charlotte last Saturday. The Tops are led by Raneem Elgedawy's 16.5 points (fifth in C-USA), 9.6 rebounds (third in C-USA) and 1.2 blocks per game. Whitney Creech (14.5 ppg) dishes out 4.3 assists per contest (fourth in C-USA), while Dee Givens (15.4 ppg) contributes 2.3 steals (second in C-USA). Creech is also the team's best behind the 3-point line (45.0 percent) and at the free throw stripe (78.9) and leads the league with 36.8 minutes per game.
WKU was picked third in the league's preseason poll. Elgedawy and Meral Abdelgawad had 14 points apiece in the win over the 49ers, a game that saw Charlotte rally from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit only to fall short in the game's final seconds.
WKU leads the league in turnover margin (+3.6) and offensive rebounding percentage (.382), but is last in 3-point percentage defense (.340) and defensive rebounds (23.5).
Last Time Out: Jan. 18 at Old Dominion (L, 57-46)
Ajah Wayne and Amari Young both registered double-doubles as Old Dominion's women's basketball team held off a valiant Marshall comeback 57-46 last Saturday afternoon at Chartway Arena.
Wayne had 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Young posted 12 points and 14 boards to lead the Monarchs. The latter also four steals. Young and Adams had three assists apiece as well.
The Thundering Herd's Savannah Wheeler tied a season-high with 19 points, making all nine of her free throws. Taylor Pearson also chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds, while Khadaijia Brooks notched eight points, five rebounds and four steals. Both Pearson and Brooks fouled out as Marshall battled difficulty in that area throughout.
Wheeler and Kristen Mayo led the team with three assists apiece.
The Monarchs led for 37 minutes, 50 seconds, but the Thundering Herd clawed its way back from 15-point first-half deficit to take a 40-38 advantage on a Brooks layup 36 seconds into the fourth quarter. That basket capped off a 16-2 second half run for the visitors but Old Dominion scored 19 of the contest's final 25 points in the final period.
The home team held a 35-21 advantage on points in the paint and second chance points.
"We didn't guard very well in the fourth quarter," said Marshall head coach Tony Kemper. "(ODU) missed a lot of third-quarter shots too, but I'm proud of the way we came out of the locker room (for the second half). We were in a pretty tough spot, steadied and battled."
Perfection
Marshall went a perfect 13-for-13 at the free throw line at Old Dominion last Saturday. The last time the Thundering Herd made more in a game without a miss was February 6, 2016 when it went 18-for-18 in an 80-76 win at UTSA.
Pearson's Resurgence
Marshall's Taylor Pearson has averaged 12.3 points over her last three games. That figure is up from her 4.7 per game clip over the previous six games.
Season/Career-Highs
Savannah Wheeler tied season-highs in points (19), free throws made (nine) and rebounds (6) at Old Dominion, while Paige Shy set a new season mark with 24 minutes. Also in that contest, Khadaijia Brooks tied a career high with four steals.
Defensive Struggle
The 98 combined points between Charlotte and Marshall were the fewest in a Thundering Herd game since February 7, 2015 when North Texas edged Marshall 45-42 in Denton.
Wheeler Attacks
Since entering the starting lineup at North Texas on January 4, Savannah Wheeler has gotten to the free throw line 40 times in those last five games (8.0 per game), making 36 for 90 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.
Block Party
Senior Ashley Saintigene has returned to the Herd lineup with a vengeance this season on the defensive side. The senior has swatted 45 shots in 16 games to start the year. She has had two or more in 14 contests. Her season-high thus far is five in a win over Coppin State (11/19). Saintigene is currently 14th in the NCAA in blocks per game (2.81). As a team, Marshall is 19th in the country in blocks per game (5.2).
The Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., native is fourth all-time in program history in blocked shots with 126 and her 45 this season puts her 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. 45 - Ashley Saintigene - 2019-20
7. 43 - Talequia Hamilton - 2017-18
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. 126 - 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 68.**
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, 160-319), 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 (80.3, 94-117), 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 100 in the NCAA in several categories.
19th in blocks per game - 5.2
20th in field goal percentage defense - 34.7%
27th in total blocks - 89
31st in defensive rebounds per game - 28.8 (leads C-USA)
58th in rebounds per game - 41.1
51st in fewest turnovers - 248 (leads C-USA)
81st in fewest turnovers per game - 14.6
86th in 3-point field goals per game - 7.1
93rd in scoring defense - 60.8
Ashley Saintigene is 14th in blocks per game (2.81)
Ashley Saintigene is 18th in total blocks (45)
Savannah Wheeler is 30th in free throw percentage (85.9)
Notable Active Herd Streaks: (last game without stat in parentheses)
Taylor Pearson 50-straight games with a rebound (2/17/18 at WKU)
Khadaijia Brooks 41-straight games with a point (12/4/18 at Wisconsin)
Taylor Pearson 39-straight games with a point (12/4/18 at Wisconsin)
Kristen Mayo 38-straight games with a point (12/18/18 at Clemson)
Khadaijia Brooks 32-straight starts (1/17/19 at FAU)
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 217 points for the season, averaging 12.8 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 27.5 minutes per contest.
Up Next
Marshall will host FIU on Thursday at 6 p.m. and Florida Atlantic on Saturday at 1 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
Game Notes
Series History: 14th all-time meeting – WKU leads 12-1
Last Meeting: February 23, 2019 in Huntington – WKU won 69-66 in overtime
Scouting the Lady Hilltoppers
WKU comes into Saturday's game following a 60-56 road victory over Charlotte last Saturday. The Tops are led by Raneem Elgedawy's 16.5 points (fifth in C-USA), 9.6 rebounds (third in C-USA) and 1.2 blocks per game. Whitney Creech (14.5 ppg) dishes out 4.3 assists per contest (fourth in C-USA), while Dee Givens (15.4 ppg) contributes 2.3 steals (second in C-USA). Creech is also the team's best behind the 3-point line (45.0 percent) and at the free throw stripe (78.9) and leads the league with 36.8 minutes per game.
WKU was picked third in the league's preseason poll. Elgedawy and Meral Abdelgawad had 14 points apiece in the win over the 49ers, a game that saw Charlotte rally from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit only to fall short in the game's final seconds.
WKU leads the league in turnover margin (+3.6) and offensive rebounding percentage (.382), but is last in 3-point percentage defense (.340) and defensive rebounds (23.5).
Last Time Out: Jan. 18 at Old Dominion (L, 57-46)
Ajah Wayne and Amari Young both registered double-doubles as Old Dominion's women's basketball team held off a valiant Marshall comeback 57-46 last Saturday afternoon at Chartway Arena.
Wayne had 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Young posted 12 points and 14 boards to lead the Monarchs. The latter also four steals. Young and Adams had three assists apiece as well.
The Thundering Herd's Savannah Wheeler tied a season-high with 19 points, making all nine of her free throws. Taylor Pearson also chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds, while Khadaijia Brooks notched eight points, five rebounds and four steals. Both Pearson and Brooks fouled out as Marshall battled difficulty in that area throughout.
Wheeler and Kristen Mayo led the team with three assists apiece.
The Monarchs led for 37 minutes, 50 seconds, but the Thundering Herd clawed its way back from 15-point first-half deficit to take a 40-38 advantage on a Brooks layup 36 seconds into the fourth quarter. That basket capped off a 16-2 second half run for the visitors but Old Dominion scored 19 of the contest's final 25 points in the final period.
The home team held a 35-21 advantage on points in the paint and second chance points.
"We didn't guard very well in the fourth quarter," said Marshall head coach Tony Kemper. "(ODU) missed a lot of third-quarter shots too, but I'm proud of the way we came out of the locker room (for the second half). We were in a pretty tough spot, steadied and battled."
Perfection
Marshall went a perfect 13-for-13 at the free throw line at Old Dominion last Saturday. The last time the Thundering Herd made more in a game without a miss was February 6, 2016 when it went 18-for-18 in an 80-76 win at UTSA.
Pearson's Resurgence
Marshall's Taylor Pearson has averaged 12.3 points over her last three games. That figure is up from her 4.7 per game clip over the previous six games.
Season/Career-Highs
Savannah Wheeler tied season-highs in points (19), free throws made (nine) and rebounds (6) at Old Dominion, while Paige Shy set a new season mark with 24 minutes. Also in that contest, Khadaijia Brooks tied a career high with four steals.
Defensive Struggle
The 98 combined points between Charlotte and Marshall were the fewest in a Thundering Herd game since February 7, 2015 when North Texas edged Marshall 45-42 in Denton.
Wheeler Attacks
Since entering the starting lineup at North Texas on January 4, Savannah Wheeler has gotten to the free throw line 40 times in those last five games (8.0 per game), making 36 for 90 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.
Block Party
Senior Ashley Saintigene has returned to the Herd lineup with a vengeance this season on the defensive side. The senior has swatted 45 shots in 16 games to start the year. She has had two or more in 14 contests. Her season-high thus far is five in a win over Coppin State (11/19). Saintigene is currently 14th in the NCAA in blocks per game (2.81). As a team, Marshall is 19th in the country in blocks per game (5.2).
The Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., native is fourth all-time in program history in blocked shots with 126 and her 45 this season puts her 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. 45 - Ashley Saintigene - 2019-20
7. 43 - Talequia Hamilton - 2017-18
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. 126 - 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 68.**
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, 160-319), 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 (80.3, 94-117), 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 100 in the NCAA in several categories.
19th in blocks per game - 5.2
20th in field goal percentage defense - 34.7%
27th in total blocks - 89
31st in defensive rebounds per game - 28.8 (leads C-USA)
58th in rebounds per game - 41.1
51st in fewest turnovers - 248 (leads C-USA)
81st in fewest turnovers per game - 14.6
86th in 3-point field goals per game - 7.1
93rd in scoring defense - 60.8
Ashley Saintigene is 14th in blocks per game (2.81)
Ashley Saintigene is 18th in total blocks (45)
Savannah Wheeler is 30th in free throw percentage (85.9)
Notable Active Herd Streaks: (last game without stat in parentheses)
Taylor Pearson 50-straight games with a rebound (2/17/18 at WKU)
Khadaijia Brooks 41-straight games with a point (12/4/18 at Wisconsin)
Taylor Pearson 39-straight games with a point (12/4/18 at Wisconsin)
Kristen Mayo 38-straight games with a point (12/18/18 at Clemson)
Khadaijia Brooks 32-straight starts (1/17/19 at FAU)
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 217 points for the season, averaging 12.8 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 27.5 minutes per contest.
Up Next
Marshall will host FIU on Thursday at 6 p.m. and Florida Atlantic on Saturday at 1 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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