Herd Insider Magazine - Official website. Cover Marshall Sports since 1998

GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina guard Crystal Wilson led all players with 18 points as the Pirates took down the Thundering Herd women's basketball team, 78-54, in Monday's Conference USA opener at Minges Coliseum.

East Carolina (12-2, 1-0 C-USA) entered Monday's game as the leading offensive team in Conference USA, leading the league in scoring and shooting percentage. The Pirates saw that continue against the Thundering Herd (8-5, 0-1 C-USA).

For the second-consecutive game in Greenville, the Herd dug itself into an early hole. In last year's meeting at Minges Coliseum, the Pirates led by as many as 30 points in the opening period before taking a 28-point lead at the half. ECU replicated that effort tonight, taking a 25-point advantage to the halftime break, 48-23.

ECU hit eight out of its first ten shot attempts on its way to a 19-12 advantage with 11:26 remaining in the first half. The Pirates forced five Marshall turnovers over that span, converting them into six points.

Marshall was held without a field goal for a six-minute span midway through the first half as the Pirates opened up a 28-13 lead with 7:25 left in the half. Crystal Wilson scored early and often for ECU, tallying 14 in the opening stanza.

The Pirates utilized the three-ball late in the half to extend its lead even more. ECU shot 6-of-7 from three-point range in the half, including four treys in a span of three minutes. Kelly Smith was a perfect 4-4 beyond-the-arc in the first half.

Marshall struggled with its shooting early on, hitting 10-of-28 shots in the period while ECU scorched the nets, shooting 65.4% (17-26). Tynikki Crook hit five of her six shot attempts in the half while the rest of the team shot 5-of-22.

East Carolina kept the pressure on in the second half, scoring the first four points before seeing the lead grow to 31 points, 57-26. Smith knocked down her fifth three-pointer to seal the 9-3 run to begin the half.

The Herd was able to cut into the deficit, taking it under 20 points on several occasions before ECU came away with the 78-54 win.

Crook led Marshall with 16 points. She was the lone scorer in double figures for the Herd. Crook, along with Chantelle Handy led MU with six rebounds apiece.

Wilson led a trio of double-digit scorers for the Pirates. Kelly Smith recorded 15 points, all coming on three-pointers while Chareya Smith scored 12.

For the first time this season, Marshall won the rebounding battle, but lost the game. The Herd notched 35 boards while holding the Pirates to 32. Entering today's game, MU was a perfect 8-0 when outrebounding its opponent.

East Carolina finished the game shooting 56% from the floor while holding MU to 38.3% shooting (23-of-60). The Pirates also finished the day 8-of-12 from three-point range.

Marshall will open up the home portion of its C-USA schedule this weekend. On Friday evening, defending tournament champion UCF visits Huntington before Southern Miss comes to town on Sunday. Friday's game is set for a 7 p.m. tip while Sunday's contest against the Golden Eagles will begin at 5 p.m. That game will be televised by ESPN2 and will mark the annual "Jam The Cam" game. Tickets are just $1.

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