University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Marshall
Lady Eagles Basketball Falls in Season Finale
3/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss Lady Eagle basketball team lost their season finale to Marshall 63-53 Saturday in Reed Green Coliseum.
Southern Miss drops to 14-15 overall and 7-11 in the league play heading into the Conference USA Tournament, Mar. 8-12, in Birmingham, Ala. Marshall improved to 19-10 and 9-9.
"You have to say hats off to Marshall because they played very well," Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. "Their zone was very effective against us. We did not penetrate any gaps and that's truly the difference in a zone. We just did not play well today at all. Everyone just kind of struggled. We missed some shots and defensively, they were a tough matchup. We just didn't play the way we've played the last three games."
Caitlin Jenkins led the team in scoring and rebounding with 12 points and 15 rebounds, setting the freshman record for rebounds in the process. Brittanny Dinkins had 11 points and Jayla King chipped in 10 points. Dinkins also had four assists and five steals.
The teams opened the game trading three-pointers before Dinkins got loose for a layup to put the Lady Eagles up 8-3. Marshall matched the run with a basket and a pair of free throws to cut the lead to one. The Lady Eagles then used an 11-3 run for the 19-10 lead. However, the Herd then connected on two threes and a layup in the final 2:06 as the quarter ended with Southern Miss leading 19-18.
After going scoreless for the first minute of the quarter, Southern Miss outscored Marshall 7-0 over a 3:03 span in building a 26-18 lead. Marshall quickly answered with a 10-0 run in taking a 28-26 lead. From there, the teams traded baskets until Dinkins hit a three and King added two free throws in the final minute for the 35-31 lead at the half.
The visitors opened the third stanza with a 9-0 run in taking what proved to the lead for good. Over the final six minutes, the team traded baskets and the quarter ended with Marshall leading 47-43.
In the final quarter, Jenkins scored first for the Lady Eagles before Marshall scored the next seven for the 54-45 lead. After a pair of Jenkins free throws, Marshall tightened its defensive effort down the stretch, but continued to add to its lead. Southern Miss got the lead under double digits but Marshall ended the game hitting four of six free throws for the 63-53 win.
Leah Scott led Marshall with 18 points followed by Kiana Evans with 17 and Shayna Gore with 13. Norrisha Victrum led with seven rebounds.
Southern Miss edged the Herd in rebounding 37-31, but Marshall scored 20 points off 17 Lady Eagle turnovers.
The Lady Eagles will prepare for the upcoming Conference USA Championship with their seed to be determined.
