Herd Women Kick off Florida Swing at FIU Thursday

MIAMI, Fla. – The Marshall women's basketball team (11-16 overall, 6-10 Conference USA) will travel to FIU (5-22, 2-14) on Thursday. Tip time at the Ocean Bank Convention Center is 7 p.m. ET.

Game Details
Live Stats
Live Video
Marshall Radio (w/ Jason Corriher)
Game Notes
Series History: 13th all-time meeting – Marshall leads 8-4
Last Meeting: January 30, 2020 in Huntington, W.Va. – FIU won 68-65

Last Time Out: Feb. 29 vs. North Texas (L, 77-69)
N'Yah Boyd made five of her seven 3-point attempts to lift visiting North Texas to a 77-69 wire-to-wire win over Marshall Saturday afternoon at the Cam Henderson Center.

The win vaulted the Mean Green to 11-17 overall and 5-11 in Conference USA, while the Thundering Herd dropped to 11-16 and 6-10 in the league.

Boyd, who went 4-for-4 from deep in the first quarter alone, finished with a game-high 24 points, while Anisha George posted a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Summer Jones added 12 points to go with Jazion Jackson's eight assists.

Marshall was led by the tandem of Taylor Pearson and Khadaijia Brooks, who scored 16 apiece and combined to go 7-for-12 from beyond the arc. The latter also set a season-high with four 3-pointers and Paige Shy chipped in 10 points and five rebounds. Kristen Mayo dished out six assists and three steals, a total that was also equaled by Kia Sivils.

Marshall was outrebounded 42-26, including 18-5 on the offensive end, which led to a 13-3 advantage for North Texas on second chance points.

The visitors jumped on Marshall early, grabbing a 47-31 lead at the half.

The lead grew to as many as 22 four times in the second half, the last on a Trena Mims layup 10 seconds into the final period.

However, Marshall then ripped off a 19-0 run to pull within three (72-69) on a Mayo layup with 3:03 left. UNT's Madi Townley, though, connected on back-to-back jumpers to stave off the comeback and Randi Thompson added a free throw for the contest's final margin.

"I felt like we were really passive," said Marshall head coach Tony Kemper. "Early on, you can't do that. That's the second game in a row where it has been like that. On the flip side, you have to give a lot of credit to North Texas. They came in and made shots and made them early."

"Our inability to finish balls that were very makeable probably contributed to defensive lapses and I'm sure the frustration carried over to both ends."

The team's four seniors Princess Clemons, Brie Toney, Khadaijia Brooks and manager Maggie Stanley were recognized in a pregame ceremony.

Quest for 18
If Marshall is able to pick up victories this week at FIU and Florida Atlantic, the Herd would have its 17th and 18th Conference USA wins, dating back to last season. That would be a program-record, as far as a two-year span in this conference is concerned. The Herd has twice won 17 (9 in 2005-06 and 8 in 2006-07; 8 in 2014-15 and 9 in 2015-16).

Stolen!
Marshall has had more steals than the opposition in eight of its last nine games. Individually, Princess Clemons has averaged 1.5 per game in league play, which is tied for 15th in C-USA.

Wheeler Named C-USA Freshman of the Week
Freshman Savannah Wheeler was named Conference USA Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Feb. 17.

Wheeler provided a spark for the Thundering Herd as it blew past UTSA and UTEP at home. She averaged 14.5 points, three rebounds and three assists, and shined at the perimeter with a 6-for-11 clip. She racked up 13 points with three treys and four rebounds against the Roadrunners, followed by a 16-point effort when Marshall hosted UTEP. Wheeler went 5-of-10 from the floor versus the Miners, knocking down three more long-range shots with five assists and two rebounds.

66+
The Thundering Herd is 9-2 this season when reaching the 66-point mark. The two losses were an 82-69 setback to Bowling Green on December 7 and a 77-69 defeat by North Texas on February 29.

Making Them Count
Marshall has had a higher free throw percentage than the opposition in its last 15 games. That's nothing new for the Thundering Herd. Last season, Marshall had a 13-game streak of free throw percentage equal to, or better, than its opponents (January 19 to March 13). In these last 15 games, the Herd has connected on 74.2 percent (210-for-283) compared to 57.6 percent (174-for-302) for its opponents. Against UTSA, the Herd made all 17 of its attempts, a number that is tied for fourth nationally among those schools who have posted a perfect single-game percentage. 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. For the season, Marshall ranks second in C-USA games at 73.7 percent (219-for-297).

Pearson's Resurgence
Marshall's Taylor Pearson has averaged 14.2 points over her last 13 games. That figure is up from her 4.7 per game clip over the previous six games. On the season, she is third in the league in 3-point percentage (39.8 percent).

Season/Career-Highs
In Marshall's 77-69 home loss to North Texas, Paige Shy set season/career-highs with 10 points and four field goals made. Meanwhile, Khadaijia Brooks had season-highs in points (16) and 3-pointers (four). Kia Sivils also logged a season-high 30 minutes.
Wheeler Attacks
Since entering the starting lineup at North Texas on January 4, Savannah Wheeler has gotten to the free throw line 99 times in those last 15 games (6.6 per game), making 83 for 83.8 percent. In her previous 12 games, she got to the charity stripe just 38 times (3.2 per contest). Wheeler is currently the only freshman, nationally, who ranks in the top 51 in free throws made (51st, 114) and free throw percentage (49th, 83.2).

Leading and Leading Late
Marshall is 11-1 this season when leading at the half and 10-1 when leading with five minutes left in regulation. Since the beginning of last season, the Thundering Herd is 24-6 when leading at the break and 24-3 when leading at the five-minute mark.

Hitting the Glass, Controlling the Paint
The Thundering Herd is 14-5 since the start of last season when it outrebounds the opposition and 17-6 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).

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-Present)
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. 75 - Khadaijia Brooks (2015-Present)

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-Present
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. Savannah Wheeler (83.2, 114-137), 2019-Present
3. Kristina Behnfeldt (82.0, 728-888), 1995-99
4. Shayna Gore (81.2, 336-411), 2015-19
5. Jenny Leavitt (80.7, 205-254), 1985-89
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. Kristen Mayo (77.2, 122-158), 2017-Present

Ranked in the NCAA
Marshall is ranked in the top 100 in the NCAA in several categories.

37th in fewest turnovers - 377
40th in 3-point field goals per game - 7.7
57th in field goal percentage defense - 37.2%
60th in blocks per game - 4.2
60th in 3-point field goals made - 209
65th in fewest turnovers per game - 14.0
73rd in total blocks - 113
Savannah Wheeler is 49th in free throw percentage (83.2)
Savannah Wheeler is 51st in free throws made (114)
Ashley Saintigene is 77th in total blocks (45)
Savannah Wheeler is 95th in free throw attempts (137)

Notable Active Herd Streaks: (last game without stat in parentheses)
Taylor Pearson 60-straight games with a rebound (2/17/18 at WKU)
Taylor Pearson 49-straight games with a point (12/4/18 at Wisconsin)
Kristen Mayo 48-straight games with a point (12/18/18 at Clemson)
Khadaijia Brooks 42-straight starts (1/17/19 at FAU)

Hot Shooting
Marshall's 55.1 percent field goal shooting (27-for-49) in the 76-66 win over UTEP was the highest figure for the program since registering a 56.8 percent clip in an 82-78 loss to Southern Miss on February 2, 2017.

Stingy
Marshall allowed just one steal to Louisiana Tech in Saturday's loss in Ruston. That's the fewest for a Marshall opponent since Charlotte also had just one in a 71-66 victory over the Thundering Herd in the first round of the 2017 Conference USA Tournament.

20+
When Wheeler and Mayo both got to the 20-point plateau against Florida Atlantic, it marked the first time since last season's regular-season-finale romp over FIU (3/7/19) that Marshall had two players secure that achievement. In that game, Taylor Porter connected on a school-record 10 3-pointers for 30 points and Shayna Gore added 29.

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.

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Herd Women Kick off Florida Swing at FIU Thursday

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Players Mentioned

Khadaijia Brooks

Princess Clemons

Shayna Gore

Kristen Mayo

Taylor Pearson

Taylor Porter

Ashley Saintigene

Paige Shy

Kia Sivils

Savannah Wheeler

Marshall University Athletics