Second-Half Surge Lifts Herd Over Delaware State, 62-47

HUNTINGTON, West Virginia --  A slow start didn't stop the Thundering Herd (5-5, 0-0 C-USA) from picking up its second consecutive win, taking down Delaware State (3-7, 0-1 MEAC), 62-47, Saturday afternoon at Cam Henderson Center.

For the first time in coach Matt Daniel's two seasons, Marshall has won back-to-back games and will enter the holiday break with a .500 record. The Herd's last winning streak came in February 2012, when Marshall defeated Memphis, 65-54 (Feb. 16), and UAB, 40-37 (Feb. 19).

"This is a great way to go into the holidays, especially with everything that we've been going through and dealing with," Daniel said. "We found a way to win another game today. That's two in a row and I'm really pleased with the last two team victories that we've had."

It took the Herd almost four minutes to reach the scoreboard - a Chelsey Romero (Hampton, Va.) layup tied the game at two at 16:25 in the first half. Marshall found its first lead at 8:33 when senior Suporia Dickens (Freeport, Ill.) hit a jumper to put the Herd up, 9-8.

The score would tie thrice more before knotting for the fifth time at 19, going into the break.

Marshall's 19 halftime points were the fewest since putting up only 16 versus UAB, Feb. 17, 2013.

Junior Leah Scott (Detroit) opened the second half with an and-one layup, giving the Herd a 22-19 lead, and Marshall would never surrender again. With help from sophomore Norrisha Victrum's (Columbia, S.C.) 12 second-half points, including 8-of-10 free throws, the Herd gained momentum and had its largest lead of 15 with 20 seconds remaining. The final buzzer sounded for Marshall's fifth win of the season, 62-47.

Victrum finished the game on top for the Herd's third consecutive game, putting up 16 points. She had a solid outing from the point guard position, making four assists, three steals and committing zero turnovers. Two other Marshall players found double figures, with Scott's 13 and Dickens' 11.

Despite being outrebounded by Delaware State (42-37), Marshall feasted off the Hornets' 22 turnovers, scoring 20 points. The Herd also controlled the paint offensively, pouring in 36 points to the Hornets' 20.

"We literally, at a couple points in the game, had three kids on the court under 5-foot-6," Daniel said. "AJ Johnson did a great job. Chelsey Romero's size helped us tremendously." Romero tied her career-highs of 14 rebounds and three blocks in 32 minutes played.

After the teams' first meeting, Marshall now leads the all-time series with Delaware State, 1-0.

The Herd will have a week-long holiday hiatus before hosting Navy at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29, at Cam Henderson Center. For all the latest information about Marshall women's basketball, follow @HerdWBB on Twitter.

COURTESY MARSHALL UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS