Marshall Upsets Women's Basketball in MAC Quarterfinals, 64-58
3/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Trailing 42-37 with 13 1/2 minutes remaining, the Thundering Herd (18-11) went on a 20-4 run over the next seven minutes to take a 57-46 lead they never relinquished. Marshall forced the Golden Flashes (19-9) into 1-of-9 shooting from the field and five turnovers during the stretch.
Kent State, which entered the game riding an eight-game winning streak, held the Herd scoreless for the next five minutes but was only able to cut the lead to five points (57-52) with 1:23 left. Marshall then put the game away by hitting 7-of-8 from the free-throw line in the final 66 seconds after making just 7-of-18 prior to that.
Shepard-Hall, who hit 5-of-9 three-point attempts, was the only Marshall player in double figures. Amy Smith scored all eight of her points in the first half, while Catie Knable added six points and 10 rebounds.
Malika Willoughby led four Kent State players in double figures with 13 points and also grabbed a career-high nine rebounds. Lindsay Shearer added 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Andrea Csaszar had 10 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots.
In the first half, the score was tied four times with five lead changes before Kent State ended the half with a 10-3 run for a 31-27 halftime lead.
The Thundering Herd pulled down 18 offensive rebounds in the game and made 20 steals.
Marshall, which was the lone lower seed to win its quarterfinal game, will play second-seeded Eastern Michigan University in the second semifinal Friday at 2:30 p.m. EST. Top-seeded Miami University will meet fourth-seeded Bowling Green State University at noon.
Notes: Andrea Csaszar finished with six blocks, tying her season high and the second-best mark in tournament history. She set a Kent State single-season mark for blocks with 79 ... the loss snaps KSU's eight game winning streak ... Lindsay Shearer recorded her third double-double in as many games.
