Marshall University Athletics
Wednesday, March 11
Frisco, Texas
12:00 ET/11:00 AM CT
Marshall University
-1317,711 CUSA
71
vs
67
Southern Miss
-1515,711 CUSA
1
2
3
4
OT 1
F
Southern Miss
15
14
20
11
7
67
Marshall
14
16
10
20
11
71
Kristen Mayo
Marshall Perseveres in Overtime at Conference USA Tourney
3/11/2020 5:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Herd plays Owls at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT on Thursday
FINAL STATS
FRISCO, Texas – Kristen Mayo set a new career-high with 22 points as the eighth-seeded Marshall women's basketball team forced 26 turnovers in a 71-67 win over ninth-seeded Southern Miss Wednesday in first-round action at The Star in 2020's Conference USA Tournament.
The win propelled the Thundering Herd into Thursday's quarterfinal round against top-seeded Rice (21-8) at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT.
Mayo made seven of her 14 shots, while Savannah Wheeler went 13-for-14 from the free throw line for 19 points and Taylor Pearson had 10 points (all in the second half). Princess Clemons led the team with four rebounds and four assists, while Wheeler had four steals.
Southern Miss was led by a pair of double-doubles from Respect Leaphart (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Kelsey Jones (14 points, 11 rebounds). Jones also had nine turnovers as the Golden Eagles pounded the ball inside on nearly every possession. Leaphart also had three blocks. Daishai Almond had a game-high seven assists.
Marshall took a one-point lead (30-29) into the halftime locker room after a Khadaijia Brooks triple seconds before the halftime horn.
Southern Miss got off to a fast start in the third quarter, building a 12-point lead in the latter stages of the third quarter. Marshall's Mayo tied the game at 60 with two free throws with seven seconds left in regulation. USM had a chance to win the game there, but Jones misfired on a shot in the lane and Pearson rebounded for the Thundering Herd as the game went to overtime.
In overtime, USM's Shonte Hailes drilled a 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles a one-point lead (65-64) with 2:44 left, but Marshall came right back and regained the advanteage with a Clemons layup 16 seconds later. The Thundering Herd then made five free throws down the stretch to grab the victory.
Marshall turned those 26 Southern Miss turnovers into 31 points and outran USM 27-9 in fast break points. The Thundering Herd also registered 15 steals on the afternoon. All of that helped to negate USM's dramatic edge in rebounding (42-23) and second chance points (15-3).
Postgame Quotes
Marshall Head Coach, Tony Kemper
Opening Statement:
"I thought we played really well in the first half and didn't make shots. We haven't really been playing that well coming in here and to reset at some point and to figure out that we have got get back to doing the things we are capable of doing."
On the difference in late game defense:
"I just don't think we were quite as crisp and ready to go in what should be a really tight game…and we got a lot of stops down the stretch."
On having a freshman on the line late:
"She's made a lot of shots in her young life already and so let her continue to grow."
#2, Kristen Mayo, Marshall
On playing in a C-USA tournament for the first time:
"There are going to be players that are quicker, stronger, faster than me and I've just got to play my game."
On how much Savannah helped her:
"Helps a lot. We can always count on her to make a shot."
Southern Miss Head Coach, Joye Lee-McNelis
Opening Statement:
"In these types of atmospheres, March Madness, you know, anything can happen. But what it boils down to is players make plays. And you have to say hats off to Mayo, you have to say hats off to Wheeler, and hats off to Pearson. The third quarter was huge for us. We really got things rolling, and when our backs got against the wall, let's just be honest, we struggled."
On Shonte Hailes:
"She worked diligently to be on a mission to be able to come back and play. I cannot say enough about that kid."
FRISCO, Texas – Kristen Mayo set a new career-high with 22 points as the eighth-seeded Marshall women's basketball team forced 26 turnovers in a 71-67 win over ninth-seeded Southern Miss Wednesday in first-round action at The Star in 2020's Conference USA Tournament.
The win propelled the Thundering Herd into Thursday's quarterfinal round against top-seeded Rice (21-8) at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT.
Mayo made seven of her 14 shots, while Savannah Wheeler went 13-for-14 from the free throw line for 19 points and Taylor Pearson had 10 points (all in the second half). Princess Clemons led the team with four rebounds and four assists, while Wheeler had four steals.
Southern Miss was led by a pair of double-doubles from Respect Leaphart (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Kelsey Jones (14 points, 11 rebounds). Jones also had nine turnovers as the Golden Eagles pounded the ball inside on nearly every possession. Leaphart also had three blocks. Daishai Almond had a game-high seven assists.
Marshall took a one-point lead (30-29) into the halftime locker room after a Khadaijia Brooks triple seconds before the halftime horn.
Southern Miss got off to a fast start in the third quarter, building a 12-point lead in the latter stages of the third quarter. Marshall's Mayo tied the game at 60 with two free throws with seven seconds left in regulation. USM had a chance to win the game there, but Jones misfired on a shot in the lane and Pearson rebounded for the Thundering Herd as the game went to overtime.
In overtime, USM's Shonte Hailes drilled a 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles a one-point lead (65-64) with 2:44 left, but Marshall came right back and regained the advanteage with a Clemons layup 16 seconds later. The Thundering Herd then made five free throws down the stretch to grab the victory.
Marshall turned those 26 Southern Miss turnovers into 31 points and outran USM 27-9 in fast break points. The Thundering Herd also registered 15 steals on the afternoon. All of that helped to negate USM's dramatic edge in rebounding (42-23) and second chance points (15-3).
Postgame Quotes
Marshall Head Coach, Tony Kemper
Opening Statement:
"I thought we played really well in the first half and didn't make shots. We haven't really been playing that well coming in here and to reset at some point and to figure out that we have got get back to doing the things we are capable of doing."
On the difference in late game defense:
"I just don't think we were quite as crisp and ready to go in what should be a really tight game…and we got a lot of stops down the stretch."
On having a freshman on the line late:
"She's made a lot of shots in her young life already and so let her continue to grow."
#2, Kristen Mayo, Marshall
On playing in a C-USA tournament for the first time:
"There are going to be players that are quicker, stronger, faster than me and I've just got to play my game."
On how much Savannah helped her:
"Helps a lot. We can always count on her to make a shot."
Southern Miss Head Coach, Joye Lee-McNelis
Opening Statement:
"In these types of atmospheres, March Madness, you know, anything can happen. But what it boils down to is players make plays. And you have to say hats off to Mayo, you have to say hats off to Wheeler, and hats off to Pearson. The third quarter was huge for us. We really got things rolling, and when our backs got against the wall, let's just be honest, we struggled."
On Shonte Hailes:
"She worked diligently to be on a mission to be able to come back and play. I cannot say enough about that kid."
Team Stats
USM
MAR
FG%
.444
.389
3FG%
.375
.286
FT%
.842
.840
RB
42
23
TO
26
12
STL
4
15
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
19
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
13
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
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