East Carolina University
Marshall
Lady Pirates Rally To Beat Marshall, 57-56
February 04, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2006
ECU-Marshall Box Score (PDF)
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina women's basketball team walked away with a thrilling 57-56 victory over Conference USA foe Marshall Saturday night in front of 1,641 fans in Minges Coliseum improving to 13-7 overall and 5-4 in league play.
Junior Cherie Mills, who had 11 points and seven rebounds in the second half, paced three Pirates in double figures collecting 15 points and 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. The freshmen tandem of Impris Manning and LaCoya Terry each added 12 points while guard Jasmine Young dished out a game-high nine assists with six points.
The Pirates got off to a rocky start in the first five minutes of play falling behind by 14, 17-3 on a Reshundra Smiley three-pointer. But after an ECU timeout, the Pirates put together a 10-2 run that cut Marshall's lead to six, 19-13 with just under ten minutes until the intermission.
After the two teams exchanged baskets and saw the lead teeter between six and nine points, ECU closed out the final 3:38 with a 9-3 run behind four points a piece from Manning and Terry to draw within one, 31-30 at the half. The Pirates forced 12 first half turnovers which lead to 15 points.
To start the second half, both teams would again trade baskets with Marshall (10-10, 5-4) seeing its largest lead of the period at six, 42-36 when Modupe Ishola connected on a jumper with 13:57 remaining. The Pirates answered quickly when Young connected on her first three of the night to close the gap to three, 42-39. She then grabbed defensive rebound of a Mary Pat Statler missed shot, drove the length of the floor and dished off to Manning to cut the Herd lead to one, 42-41.
On the Herd's next possession, Young once again provided a spark after she picked the pocket of Bridget Chacon to set up ECU's first lead of the game at 43-42 with 12:33 remaining.
The Pirates would build their lead to nine, 52-43, on a Mills Jumper which capped off a 16-3 run. But six points by Ishola and a pair of baskets from KaShawna Curry put the Pirates up one, 55-54, with 2:41 left in the game. Ishola gave Marshall the lead, 56-55, hitting a lay-up at the 2:14 mark. But a Terry jumper with 1:48 left, sealed the victory for the Pirates, 57-56.
Marshall had three players in double figures with Curry leading the way with 14 points. Ishola netted 13 points and finished one rebound short of a double-double, while Smiley added 10.
The Pirates will hit the road Sunday for their Monday night clash with Rice in Houston, Texas with a 8 p.m. eastern tip scheduled.
