The Marshall womenƵs basketball team (1-4) knew the task of facing an undefeated Penn State team was a tall one.
And even after forcing a season-high 20 turnovers, the Thundering Herd fell to the Nittany Lions, 74-59, at the Inaugural State Farm WBCA Showcase, played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Florida.
ƵI was really proud of our effort,Ƶ Herd coach Juli Fulks said. Ƶ(Penn State) has two players averaging 20 points and 19 points going into the game, and we held one of them scoreless in the first half and six in the game, and we gave ourselves a chance. If we had just shot better in the first half -- we were 1 of 17 (on 3-point attempts) -- we were getting unbelievable looks and we just couldnƵt get the ball to go in.Ƶ
The Herd forced seven turnovers in the opening 10 minutes and trailed by just five after the first quarter. Penn State fought through 13 first-half turnovers to open up a 13-point lead by halftime, and that margin grew to 21 by the end of the third frame.
Ƶ the game progressed, Marshall settled in offensively, making five triples in the second half, including the first in the career of freshman Kassie Ingram. MUƵs lone freshman, from Cincinnati, scored a career-high seven points.
ƵWe made some adjustments offensively and defensively,Ƶ Fulks said. ƵIt was the best fourth quarter we have put together. We won the fourth quarter, 26-20. So weƵre really proud of the effort and proud of the things we got better at as we went forward.Ƶ
CC Mays led the Thundering Herd with 12 points, and Meredith Maier and Aislynn Hayes scored nine apiece. Hayes led Marshall with seven rebounds.
Gracie Merkle's 28 points on 11-of-14 shooting for the Nittany Lions led all scorers and she finished with a double-double after snaring 11 rebounds. Grace Hall scored 10 for Penn State.
The Herd returns to the State Farm Field House floor Saturday at noon to wrap up the week against Tulsa. The game will be streamed on Peacock and the NBC Fast App.
Luke Creasy is a sports reporter for HD Media. He can be reached by phone at 304-526-2800.
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