Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
1-3,0-0Sun Belt
George Mason
4-0,0-0Atlantic 10
Herd Slighted Down The Stretch In Battle With Unbeaten George Mason
11/17/2024 10:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall (1-3) rallied to draw even after trailing at one point by 14 in the second half, but ultimately fell to George Mason (4-0) Sunday evening from the Cam Henderson Center.
Senior Aislynn Hayes led the Herd with 16 points, a game after scoring a Marshall personal-best 27 Wednesday night. Senior Madison Kellione followed closely behind with a new Herd-high 14 points. She hit two of her season-high four triples in the team's 21-point 3rd.
"We really like playing off of our defense," Kellione said. "When we get steals and we get blocks and our teammates get excited, that energizes us as a team. We are then motivated to go down on offense and capitalize as a team. I think always keeping that in mind that your defense is going to lead to good offense is a good way to play."
Kellione for the 3 pic.twitter.com/FQQvpxu4Rl
— Marshall Women's Basketball (@HerdWBB) November 17, 2024
After Marshall tied the game on a Leyocha Marigney layup to even the score at 53 in the 4th, the Patriots would outscore the Herd 16-3 across the final eight minutes of the contest.
"This is a game we were really looking forward to because George Mason is a really high-level team," Coach Fulks said. "We knew that collectively we would have to be really good on defense because there was not just one person you could key-in on, they do a really good job as a group."
"We've got to figure out a way to finish the final minute of the second quarter and the fourth quarter," Fulks added. "We will continue taking a look at that. We have been great in the first and the third. I know they were ahead but I thought we played well and just missed a couple shots. We're having really good starts to halves and we've got to figure out a way to finish them."
For the full postgame press conference from Coach Fulks and Kellione, view HERE.
Marshall did keep the turnover battle in check. Mason entered the contest forcing 24.0 turnovers per game with a +13 margin. The Herd scored 17 points from takeaways to the visitors' 16. The George Mason size proved to be the biggest issue for the Herd, out-rebounding MU, 47-29.
Marshall travels to the Inaugural WBCA Showcase at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando this week. The first of two contests will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Penn State.
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