Lady Herd Hoopsters Blast Toledo Rockets 73-56by Grant Traylor
Huntington News Network Sportswriter
Huntington (HNN) — In a battle of division leading teams, Marshall’s women proved to be the stronger Mid-American Conference force on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005 in defeating the Toledo Rockets 73-56 at the Cam Henderson Center.
Marshall (11-7, 5-2 MAC) placed three players in double figures in defeating the Rockets, led by Sikeetha Shepard-Hall with 21 points.
The Thundering Herd also got double figures from Teyonka Hodge and KaShawna Curry with 14 and 12 respectively. Crystal Champion added 12 rebounds and Curry grabbed nine as the Herd held a 42-32 rebounding advantage.
After both teams shot very well in the first half, the Marshall defense put the clamps down in holding Toledo to 8-of-30 shooting in the second half.
“The second half was one of the best halves we have played all year long on the defensive end and offensive end,” Marshall coach Royce Chadwick said.
Marshall gave the Rockets a taste of their own medicine by playing tough defense. The Rockets came in as the top-ranked defense in the MAC, while Marshall was the top-ranked offense.
“The best thing about it is that we got down and defended,” Shepard-Hall said. “Looking at the stats, coach told us they were the best defense and we were the best offense and something had to change in order for us to win.”
Marshall’s offense still played well in the victory as the team shot 29-of-58 in the game for 50 percent. Shepard-Hall went 8-of-12 from the floor in leading the team.
Danielle Bishop and Jasmine House led Toledo (9-10, 5-3 MAC) with 12 points apiece while Crystal Young added 10.
The Thundering Herd used a 17-4 run over a six-minute span midway through the second half to take a 60-45 with 6:23 left.
Toledo cut the lead to single digits following a three by Bishop with 2:34 left, but the Rockets would be held scoreless after that as Marshall ended the game on an 8-0 run.
The Rockets had tied the game at 22 following a basket by Young, but Marshall then reeled off seven straight points in a 90 second span to take a 29-22 lead with 3:21 to.
Karin Hoogendam hit a basket with :04 seconds remaining in the first half to cut the Marshall lead to 30-29 at the half.
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