HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Mathilde Hergott matched a career-high with five 3-pointers for the second time in three games, but Marshall overcame a 13-point second-half deficit to nip UTSA, 81-76, in overtime and close out regular season play.
The Thundering Herd (10-19, 3-13 C-USA) was led by Norrisha Victrum’s 17 points. Suporia Dickens and Chelsey Romero each pitched in 14 and Chukwuka Ezeigbo added a dozen, as Marshall won its third conference game of the season on Senior Night.
Hergott was 5-fo-10 from downtown and finished with a team-high 17 points for the Roadrunners (13-16, 4-12 C-USA). Miki Turner tallied 15, while Mannasha Bell and Tesha Smith added 11 and 10, respectively.
UTSA came out strong in the opening half with the opportunity to improve its Conference USA Tournament seed with a win by racing out to a 43-32 halftime lead. Hergott drilled four 3-pointers and the Roadrunners shot 58.6 percent from the field.
However, the hot shooting simmered mightily for the Roadrunners in the second half, as UTSA shot just 25 percent and saw Marshall take over inside with a 22-8 deficit on points in the paint.
A hectic final minute broke out after Dwanisha Tate connected on a free throw with 1:03 remaining to tie the game at 70.
Bell rebounded a missed 3-pointer on the other end and got the ball ahead to Turner who was fouled with 33 second left.
The senior calmly knocked down both foul shots to give the Roadrunners a two-point edge only to see Leah Scott respond on the other end with a game-tying layup with 22 seconds remaining.
UTSA still had an opportunity to win in regulation, but Hergott’s inbounds feed with 15 seconds left was tipped and Marshall regained possession and called timeout, which allowed the Thundering Herd the opportunity to end the game. Victrum nearly capitalized on the moment but saw her 3-point attempt cast off the iron and send the game to overtime.
After the Roadrunners scored first to open overtime, it was all Marshall. The Thundering Herd scored nine of the game’s final 11 points to secure the win.
UTSA will enter next week's Conference USA Tournament as the 15th seed and it will open play on Tuesday, March 11, against No. 10 seed Tulsa (12-15). Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. (CT) at Memorial Gym in El Paso.