Owls Fly North for Saturday, Sunday Tilts in Huntington

Video Broadcast: CUSA.tv (Saturday, Sunday)
Radio Broadcast: WMUL (Saturday, Sunday)
Live Stats: SIDEARM
Game Notes: Marshall

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall's women's basketball team will host Rice Saturday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.) inside the Cam Henderson Center.

Both games will be carried on CUSA.tv with Marshall's Jake Griffith on the call.

The Thundering Herd is 5-7 and 4-6 in Conference USA, while the Owls come in at 12-1 and 8-0 in the league, receiving votes in both national polls.

Last Time Out: Marshall 73, Old Dominion 68 (2/6/21)
Marshall's Savannah Wheeler rocked visiting Old Dominion for a career-high 35 points as the Thundering Herd's women's basketball team won 73-68 in overtime Saturday afternoon at the Cam Henderson Center.

Marshall moved to 5-7 overall and 4-6 in Conference USA, while the Monarchs fell to 6-6 and 3-5 in the league.

Wheeler's point total came with a career-best 15 free throws in 43 minutes. Lorelei Roper snared a career-high 13 rebounds and CC Mays had a career-high four steals.

Old Dominion, who finished with just five available players after dressing eight, received 23 points from Aziah Hudson (8-for-13 from the field, 4-for-6 on 3-pointers). Dejah Carter (7-for-9 shooting) added a double-double of 17 points and 11 boards. Victoria Morris, who burned the Herd for 21 points Friday evening, was held to just six before fouling out at the 1:57 mark of the fourth quarter.

Both teams were again shorthanded. ODU's Amari Young (15.1 points, 9.3 rebounds) and Ajah Wayne (14.0 points, 9.3 rebounds) did not make the trip to Huntington.

Marshall was without starting shooting guard Kristen Mayo (9.5 points) and top reserve Kia Sivils (23.0 minutes per game) as well.

Neither team led by more than six in the first half. ODU took a 34-29 advantage into the locker room.

Marshall looked like it would grab control in the third quarter when it put together a 9-0 run to lead 45-37 at the 5:11 mark. The Monarchs, though, battled back and knotted the game at 51-apiece on a Maggie Robinson layup with 1:26 left.

Just 16 total points were scored in the fourth quarter and ODU reserve Mackenzie Smith scored the last two on a layup with 12 seconds remaining to tie the game at 60.

Marshall nearly won the game in regulation after Wheeler connected on a floater from just outside the lane with two seconds left, but the basket was nullified after she was called for a charging foul. ODU's Hudson, then, had a look at a game-winning triple from the corner, but couldn't get it to go.

The Monarchs' Lanay Wheaton fouled out with 3:09 to go in overtime and that left the visitors with just five players. However, that didn't stop ODU from taking a 67-66 lead on a Carter jumper with 1:49 left.

Fortunately for Marshall, Wheeler came right back down the floor and buried a 3-pointer from the left wing to give the Herd a lead it wouldn't relinquish. She also helped the cause by going 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the final 52 seconds.

ODU had 34 points in the paint to Marshall's 22.

Neither team shot well from the free throw line. Marshall went 23-for-38 for 60.5 percent, while ODU cashed in just 13 of 22 opportunities (59.1 percent).

Career-Highs
There were numerous career highs set during the Old Dominion weekend. They were as follows:

Alexis Johnson: 18 points, one block on February 5
CC Mays: 39 minutes, four steals on February 6
Savannah Wheeler: 35 points, 15 free throws made on February 6
Lorelei Roper: 13 rebounds, 34 minutes on February 6

Scouting the Owls
The Owls' lone loss came on the road at then No. 10 Texas A&M by the score of 57-53. Rice then had three consecutive league series postponed against UAB, North Texas and Southern Miss.

Nancy Mulkey, Rice's 6'9" center, leads the Owls with 16.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 blocks (best in the league) per contest. The Cypress, Texas native is an All-America candidate, up for numerous national awards this season and makes a conference-high 62.2 percent from the floor. Jasmine Smith leads the way in assists at 4.3 per game and steals at 1.4, a mark she shares with Sydne Wiggins. Katelyn Crosthwait has made a team-high 20 3-pointers.

The Owls lead the conference in scoring defense (57.9), scoring margin (+13.4), field goal percentage (48.8), field goal percentage defense (34.0), 3-point percentage (39.8), 3-point percentage defense (25.4), rebounding margin (+5.9), blocks (4.9) and assists (17.9). However, Rice is last in turnover margin (-4.8) and offensive rebounds per game (10.2).

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!

Owls Fly North for Saturday, Sunday Tilts in Huntington

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Players Mentioned

Alexis Johnson

Kristen Mayo

CC Mays

Lorelei Roper

Kia Sivils

Savannah Wheeler

Marshall University Athletics