Marshall head coach Juli Fulks reacts to a call during a game against James Madison on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Marshall head coach Juli Fulks reacts to a call during a game against James Madison on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Marshall UniversityƵs womenƵs basketball team lost to Central Michigan 73-68 Saturday at home, but might have found an inside player who can help the rest of the season and beyond.
Leyocha Marigney, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Fresno, California, made her first start and performed well. The transfer from Reedley College scored nine points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked six shots Ƶ four in the fourth quarter.
ƵI was just out there playing,Ƶ Marigney said. ƵI just kept playing. That was my thing.Ƶ
Aislynn Hayes led Marshall with 20 points. C.C. Mays scored 19 points and pulled down seven rebounds. The Herd (7-17) was without third-leading scorer and top rebounder Meredith Maier, who missed the game with a knee injury.
The loss frustrated Fulks, especially since the Thundering Herd led 64-55 with 5:41 to play.
ƵI donƵt know many times IƵve said that weƵve played really good for 32 minutes and played within the system and understand how to get scores and stops together, but we are really struggling with the discipline to do it for 40 minutes,Ƶ Fulks said. ƵYou canƵt win close games without really great execution on both ends of the floor, and weƵve got to be better at that.Ƶ
Fulks said she was disappointed at the number of times four players were in the right positions and one wasnƵt.
ƵWe have to learn how to have discipline and consistency,Ƶ said Marigney, who averages 10.3 minutes, 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. ƵWe have to stay in the game and execute in crucial moments. It just comes down to who wants it more.Ƶ
Fulks said the late-game execution lapses arenƵt acceptable this late in the season.
ƵWeƵve tried to be really consistent in what we run,Ƶ Fulks said. ƵWe have an offensive package in thatƵs easily learnable in terms of how much there is. Whether itƵs focus, I donƵt know, but itƵs hurting us.Ƶ
Fulks is analytical. She said the statistical and mental aspects go together in leading to success of failure.
ƵSometimes you can score over and over and over and whatever it is about the human brain, you want to try something new,Ƶ Fulks said. ƵWe need to fight that and keep scoring what theyƵre giving us.Ƶ
Marshall returns to Sun Belt Conference play at 2-10 against Old Dominion (14-11, 6-6) at 6 p.m. Thursday at Cam Henderson Center. The Monarchs edged the Herd 80-75 on Jan. 11 in Norfolk, Virginia, and are coming off a 56-52 loss to Toledo.
