Herd races past Rice

BY KAYLA MARCUM

THE PARTHENON

Marshall women's basketball brings home the victory.

Marshall women's basketball broke their five-game losing streak at home Thursday against Rice, claiming the victory at 65-57.

The team came out of the gate strong with a 13-point lead less than five minutes into the first half and sustained a strong point advantage throughout the game.

Alaya Mitchell led the Herd with a total of 16 points, followed by Shay Weaver and Erica Woods with 13 points each.

Head Coach, Royce Chadwick, said he thinks the victory was entirely a team effort.

"We had a lot of people step up at a lot of different times," Chadwick said.  

Senior Mitchell said the Herd was ready for this win.

"We're sick of losing," Mitchell said.  "It was like you come out and bust your butt to get this win today on your home floor, or you stay on a losing streak and nobody on our team wants to lose."

Confidence was obvious in sophomore Shay Weaver.  Weaver she she credits the confidence on the floor again to her teammates.

"My teammates have been letting me know they believe in me," Weaver said.  "The fact that they believe in me helps me believe in myself."

Coach Chadwick said although a majority of the points were racked up by Mitchell, Weaver and Woods, the team made many critical plays as a whole to give Marshall the victory.  Chadwick said this is the type of gameplay he likes to see at this point in the season.

"As it gets into February and March, you've got to make some big-time shots," Chadwick said. "I was very proud of the way they stepped up and did some good things for us."

Weaver, Mitchell and Woods each set either a season or a career high this evening.  Mitchell said she thinks it was the best game she's played so far in this season.

"I was very comfortable on the floor and I think that it showed," Mitchell said.  

Mitchell said she's happy to have the luxury of getting to practice with everyone on the team and knowing where they'll be and how they play.  

Junior Erica Woods, who was medically redshirted last season, was confident in stepping back on to the court.

"I feel like I'm playing 20 times better than I was back in my freshman year," Woods said.  "It was hard to set out last year and I feel like I owe it to my coaches and my team that every day I come out and play as hard as I can.  I'm a team player so I told my coaches to put me where they need me to play and I'll adjust and get the job done."

With this win, Marshall improved 13-8 for the season and 4-4 in Conference USA.

Marshall's next game will be at home on Sunday against UAB.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.

Kayla Marcum can be contacted at marcum139@live.marshall.edu.