Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
24-6,17-1Sun Belt
#9 Seed App State
17-15,9-9Sun Belt
Marshall Women’s Hoops Dominates App State, 116-74
3/8/2024 3:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Herd breaks several SBC records in huge win; ties program record for wins in season
Box score | Championship Bracket | Coach Caldwell Post-Game Press Conference
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Marshall's Women's Basketball team got its 2024 Sun Belt Conference Tournament off to a record-setting start.
The Thundering Herd broke several Sun Belt Conference records, including most points in a game (116), most points in a half (62), most field goals made (47) and tied for the most 3-point field goals made (13) in a 116-74 domination of App State on Friday afternoon at the Pensacola Bay Center.
"We wanted to make a statement," Marshall Women's Basketball coach Kim Caldwell said. "It's a new season, so we needed to level up and sometimes, when you are the No. 1 seed, you come in and play a little tight with all the pressure because you've kind of already won something. We talked about that. It's a new season and we're going to get everyone's best."
With the win, Marshall moves to 24-6 overall and advances to Sunday's 12:30 p.m. ET semifinal against the Old Dominion-ULM winner.
The win also ties Marshall for the program record for wins in a season with 24, matching that of the 1986-87 season.
Marshall finished with six players in double-figures, led by Breanna Campbell, who was 10 of 11 from the floor and finished with 21 points and six assists.
Abby Beeman also had a big game with 19 points and nine assists while C.C. Mays had career-highs with 18 points and six steals. Meredith Maier also had 16 points while Sydni Scott added 13 and Aislynn Hayes had 10.
It was Marshall's fifth time this season eclipsing the 100-point mark and the 116 points was a season-high against a Division I opponent. It also set a Marshall tournament scoring record.
"That's the best sense of urgency I've seen our team have so far this year at the start of a game," Caldwell said. "We do it when we're behind, but we hadn't had a start that looked or felt like that, so hats off to the players. They're locked in, they are focused and they aren't taking anything for granted. It's tournament time – a new season – and I think they understand that."
The Thundering Herd broke a 25-year record for points in a half in taking a 62-27 lead into the locker room, eclipsing the previous record of 58 by Louisiana Tech in a 1999 contest against Arkansas State.
While the offensive performance was impressive, so too was the defensive performance, which shut down App State leading scorer Faith Alston.
Alston, who had 36 points in a win over Georgia State on Wednesday, had just four points on 2-of-8 shooting while getting the Mountaineers' leader in foul trouble early.
Marshall led just 13-11 midway through the first quarter when Alston picked up her second foul. Over the next eight minutes of game action, the Herd took control on the defensive end, going on a 34-4 run that produced several turnovers and a 47-15 lead with 6:57 left before halftime.
"For me, I think the defense is more exciting," Campbell/Beeman said. "Taking a charge or getting a deflection or getting rebounds and getting (the break) going – it's all fun for me."
"Our defense translates to offense, so if we can get a steal, we can probably get an easy bucket on the back end of it," Beeman said. "It starts on the defensive end. That's where we win games."
Prior to the contest, Marshall was honored on-court for winning the 2023-24 Sun Belt Conference Regular Season Championship.
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