Marshall University Athletics
Wednesday, December 15
Huntington, W.Va.
6 PM
Marshall University
-44,00 CUSA
88
vs
56
Alderson Broaddus
5-5,3-3MEC
1
2
3
4
F
Alderson Broaddus
23
9
12
12
56
Marshall
18
22
33
15
88
#23 Alexis Johnson scored 18 points and #21 Sarah Liberatore finished with 15
Photo by: Adam Gue
Johnson and Liberatore Spark Women’s Basketball to Victory over Battlers
12/15/2021 10:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Johnson and Liberatore combine for 33 points off the bench
Game Book (PDF)
Postgame Press Conference: Head Coach Tony Kemper | Sarah Liberatore
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall women's basketball team received great performances off the bench from sophomore Alexis Johnson and freshman Sarah Liberatore, as the Herd defeated the Alderson Broaddus Battlers 88-56, Wednesday night in the Cam Henderson Center.
Johnson (18) and Liberatore (15) combined for 33 points and provided a tremendous spark of energy on the floor for Marshall as the Herd improved to 4-4.
"Obviously it was good to come out with a win," head coach Tony Kemper said. "I think we started flat. That was evident. Some credit goes to (Alderson Broaddus). Their shooters were ready to come in here and make shots and we kind of dared them to do it and they did. I thought Sarah (Liberatore) came in and hit a really big shot for us when we were just out of sorts. We kind of looked like we weren't sure how we were going to make it happen.
"We did eventually make it happen. But we have to grow. We have to improve, and we have to get our chemistry back together. Afterward, I talked to the team about how we haven't been the same since some final sequences at Michigan State.
"The change and trying to get there with them, it starts from my point of view. I have to better about messaging and what is important. And they have to respond a little bit too. I'm glad we flipped the switch and got it done. We have got to get steady and get in a better headspace for Las Vegas and for conference play which is right around the corner."
Coach Kemper told both Johnson and Liberatore when he sent them in to make something happen and to be the spark. And both players responded throughout the game.
Johnson tied her career-high in points, originally set against Old Dominion in February, and tied her season-high with seven boards for her 14th career game with five or more off the glass. Johnson added two assists and two steals. The sophomore was able to find her spot from in and around the paint, shooting 7-of-10 from the floor. She was also 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and 2-for-2 from the line. It was Johnson's eighth career game scoring in double-figures, and her second this season.
Liberatore had a career-night in points, minutes (18), rebounds (three), field goals made (five) and three-pointers made (four). She had only hit just three from beyond the arc in her career before Wednesday. Liberatore finished the game 4-of-6 from distance, hitting some key shots throughout the night. She tied career-highs with two assists and one steal.
"I think for me personally, any time I am given an opportunity I want to impact this team in any way I can," Liberatore said. "And I think that is down the line for all of us. When you are given an opportunity at this level, you have to take it."
Sophomore Savannah Wheeler scored in double-figures with 16 for the 11th-straight game and the 47th time in her career. She now has 867 points. Wheeler led the Herd with seven assists, tying her career-high set against Bowling Green in 2019.
Senior Brianah Ferby finished with nine points and drew six fouls as she kept getting opportunities at the free throw line. Senior Aaliyah Dunham scored eight points and had six assists and two steals. Dunham has now tallied five or more assists in five of the Herd's eight games. It was her 36th game of her career with five or more helpers and her 45th career game with at least two thefts.
Graduate student Kennedi Colclough recorded seven points, three boards and two blocks. It was her ninth career game with at least two swats. Freshman Aarionna Redman tallied six points and six boards. Junior Lorelei Roper ended her night with seven rebounds, four points and two more blocks. Roper has at least one block in seven-straight games, leads the team with 10 this season and was her ninth career game with at least two rejections.
Freshman Ksenija Mitric finished with three points, two boards and two assists. Redshirt freshman Christiana McLean tallied two points and one assist. Freshman Sofia Llanos came off the bench for the final four minutes and recorded her first career steal and rebound.
Marshall got off to a slow start as Alderson Broaddus got hot in the first quarter. The Herd tied the game at 12-12 on a free throw from Wheeler with 5:36 on the clock. Alderson Broaddus jumped back out in front and built its lead up to seven at 20-13 with 1:40 to go. Johnson was subbed in for the first time at the 2:58 mark in the first and Liberatore entered with 1:21 left.
Liberatore immediately responded with a three with 1:04 to go on Marshall's very next possession. After a steal from Dunham, Johnson then sank a jumper from the paint that pulled the Herd within two, 20-18, with 39 seconds remaining. The Battlers then hit a three with 18 seconds left to put the lead to five and held through the final moments for the 23-18 lead at the buzzer.
In the second quarter, Marshall's defense stepped up its intensity and held Alderson Broaddus to just nine points. Johnson scored eight in the period and had two assists. Johnson hit a three-pointer at the 8:00 mark that brought the deficit down to three, 27-24. Two minutes later Johnson hit another three that brought the Herd within one, 29-28, and sparked a massive Marshall run. Colclough hit a free throw to tie the game at 29-29 and then Johnson scored on a layup after a turnover to give the Herd back the lead.
Over the final six minutes, Marshall rolled out a 15-0 run to take a 40-29 lead. The lead would have stayed in double-digits at the half except Ariyah Douglas threw up a last second heave from beyond half court and drained it at the buzzer. Marshall led 40-32 at the break. Ferby scored four points in the second while Colclough and Mitric scored three each.
Marshall improved from hitting on 38.9-percent (7-of-18) of its shots in the first quarter to 47.1-percent (8-of-17) in the second. The Herd's defense also stiffened as the Battlers hit 47.1-percent (8-of-17) from the floor, and 5-of-8 from three, in the first quarter to then shooting just 36.4-percent (4-of-11) and 1-of-4 from three in the second. Marshall forced 11 turnovers in the second quarter.
The Herd took control again in the third, forcing 10 more turnovers and holding the Battlers to just four made shots again. Alderson Broaddus scored the first points of the third before Marshall scored the next eight to lead 48-34. The Battlers hit a three to cut the deficit to 11 and then the Herd rolled out 21-0 run over the next five minutes. Liberatore drained a three for the final points of the run and Marshall led 69-37.
The Herd featured well-balanced scoring from the lineup in the third quarter as eight players tallied at least two points. Roper had all four of her points and both blocks in the third while adding four boards. Wheeler scored seven to get into double-figures. Johnson put up six. Marshall shot 65-percent (13-of-20) from the field in the period.
Liberatore took control in the fourth quarter, scoring nine of the Herd's 15 points. She knocked down two three-pointers, scored on a layup with a drive to the rim, hit a free throw and snagged three offensive rebounds to cap her night. Redman came up big on the glass with five defensive boards to take away second chances from the Battlers. Johnson scored one more basket in the fourth and grabbed three rebounds.
Marshall finished the night hitting 47.2-percent from the floor and hit eight three-pointers. The Herd also forced 29 turnovers. Marshall outscored Alderson Broaddus 46-18 in the paint and the Herd tallied 44 points off the bench.
Marshall hits the road for its final non-conference games of the 2021-22 season. The Herd travels west to the Las Vegas South Point Holiday Hoops Classic, Dec. 20-21, to take on Oakland (Dec. 20) and Akron (Dec. 21). Tipoff for both games is set for 5:30 p.m. eastern, 2:30 p.m. local time.
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!
Postgame Press Conference: Head Coach Tony Kemper | Sarah Liberatore
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall women's basketball team received great performances off the bench from sophomore Alexis Johnson and freshman Sarah Liberatore, as the Herd defeated the Alderson Broaddus Battlers 88-56, Wednesday night in the Cam Henderson Center.
Johnson (18) and Liberatore (15) combined for 33 points and provided a tremendous spark of energy on the floor for Marshall as the Herd improved to 4-4.
"Obviously it was good to come out with a win," head coach Tony Kemper said. "I think we started flat. That was evident. Some credit goes to (Alderson Broaddus). Their shooters were ready to come in here and make shots and we kind of dared them to do it and they did. I thought Sarah (Liberatore) came in and hit a really big shot for us when we were just out of sorts. We kind of looked like we weren't sure how we were going to make it happen.
"We did eventually make it happen. But we have to grow. We have to improve, and we have to get our chemistry back together. Afterward, I talked to the team about how we haven't been the same since some final sequences at Michigan State.
"The change and trying to get there with them, it starts from my point of view. I have to better about messaging and what is important. And they have to respond a little bit too. I'm glad we flipped the switch and got it done. We have got to get steady and get in a better headspace for Las Vegas and for conference play which is right around the corner."
Coach Kemper told both Johnson and Liberatore when he sent them in to make something happen and to be the spark. And both players responded throughout the game.
Johnson tied her career-high in points, originally set against Old Dominion in February, and tied her season-high with seven boards for her 14th career game with five or more off the glass. Johnson added two assists and two steals. The sophomore was able to find her spot from in and around the paint, shooting 7-of-10 from the floor. She was also 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and 2-for-2 from the line. It was Johnson's eighth career game scoring in double-figures, and her second this season.
Liberatore had a career-night in points, minutes (18), rebounds (three), field goals made (five) and three-pointers made (four). She had only hit just three from beyond the arc in her career before Wednesday. Liberatore finished the game 4-of-6 from distance, hitting some key shots throughout the night. She tied career-highs with two assists and one steal.
"I think for me personally, any time I am given an opportunity I want to impact this team in any way I can," Liberatore said. "And I think that is down the line for all of us. When you are given an opportunity at this level, you have to take it."
Sophomore Savannah Wheeler scored in double-figures with 16 for the 11th-straight game and the 47th time in her career. She now has 867 points. Wheeler led the Herd with seven assists, tying her career-high set against Bowling Green in 2019.
Senior Brianah Ferby finished with nine points and drew six fouls as she kept getting opportunities at the free throw line. Senior Aaliyah Dunham scored eight points and had six assists and two steals. Dunham has now tallied five or more assists in five of the Herd's eight games. It was her 36th game of her career with five or more helpers and her 45th career game with at least two thefts.
Graduate student Kennedi Colclough recorded seven points, three boards and two blocks. It was her ninth career game with at least two swats. Freshman Aarionna Redman tallied six points and six boards. Junior Lorelei Roper ended her night with seven rebounds, four points and two more blocks. Roper has at least one block in seven-straight games, leads the team with 10 this season and was her ninth career game with at least two rejections.
Freshman Ksenija Mitric finished with three points, two boards and two assists. Redshirt freshman Christiana McLean tallied two points and one assist. Freshman Sofia Llanos came off the bench for the final four minutes and recorded her first career steal and rebound.
Marshall got off to a slow start as Alderson Broaddus got hot in the first quarter. The Herd tied the game at 12-12 on a free throw from Wheeler with 5:36 on the clock. Alderson Broaddus jumped back out in front and built its lead up to seven at 20-13 with 1:40 to go. Johnson was subbed in for the first time at the 2:58 mark in the first and Liberatore entered with 1:21 left.
Liberatore immediately responded with a three with 1:04 to go on Marshall's very next possession. After a steal from Dunham, Johnson then sank a jumper from the paint that pulled the Herd within two, 20-18, with 39 seconds remaining. The Battlers then hit a three with 18 seconds left to put the lead to five and held through the final moments for the 23-18 lead at the buzzer.
In the second quarter, Marshall's defense stepped up its intensity and held Alderson Broaddus to just nine points. Johnson scored eight in the period and had two assists. Johnson hit a three-pointer at the 8:00 mark that brought the deficit down to three, 27-24. Two minutes later Johnson hit another three that brought the Herd within one, 29-28, and sparked a massive Marshall run. Colclough hit a free throw to tie the game at 29-29 and then Johnson scored on a layup after a turnover to give the Herd back the lead.
Over the final six minutes, Marshall rolled out a 15-0 run to take a 40-29 lead. The lead would have stayed in double-digits at the half except Ariyah Douglas threw up a last second heave from beyond half court and drained it at the buzzer. Marshall led 40-32 at the break. Ferby scored four points in the second while Colclough and Mitric scored three each.
Marshall improved from hitting on 38.9-percent (7-of-18) of its shots in the first quarter to 47.1-percent (8-of-17) in the second. The Herd's defense also stiffened as the Battlers hit 47.1-percent (8-of-17) from the floor, and 5-of-8 from three, in the first quarter to then shooting just 36.4-percent (4-of-11) and 1-of-4 from three in the second. Marshall forced 11 turnovers in the second quarter.
The Herd took control again in the third, forcing 10 more turnovers and holding the Battlers to just four made shots again. Alderson Broaddus scored the first points of the third before Marshall scored the next eight to lead 48-34. The Battlers hit a three to cut the deficit to 11 and then the Herd rolled out 21-0 run over the next five minutes. Liberatore drained a three for the final points of the run and Marshall led 69-37.
The Herd featured well-balanced scoring from the lineup in the third quarter as eight players tallied at least two points. Roper had all four of her points and both blocks in the third while adding four boards. Wheeler scored seven to get into double-figures. Johnson put up six. Marshall shot 65-percent (13-of-20) from the field in the period.
Liberatore took control in the fourth quarter, scoring nine of the Herd's 15 points. She knocked down two three-pointers, scored on a layup with a drive to the rim, hit a free throw and snagged three offensive rebounds to cap her night. Redman came up big on the glass with five defensive boards to take away second chances from the Battlers. Johnson scored one more basket in the fourth and grabbed three rebounds.
Marshall finished the night hitting 47.2-percent from the floor and hit eight three-pointers. The Herd also forced 29 turnovers. Marshall outscored Alderson Broaddus 46-18 in the paint and the Herd tallied 44 points off the bench.
Marshall hits the road for its final non-conference games of the 2021-22 season. The Herd travels west to the Las Vegas South Point Holiday Hoops Classic, Dec. 20-21, to take on Oakland (Dec. 20) and Akron (Dec. 21). Tipoff for both games is set for 5:30 p.m. eastern, 2:30 p.m. local time.
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!
---HerdZone.com---
Team Stats
ABU
Marsh
FG%
.382
.472
3FG%
.360
.364
FT%
.417
.571
RB
44
37
TO
29
9
STL
5
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F/G
/ Women's Basketball
F/C
/ Women's BasketballG
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