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Marshall’s Peyton Ilderton (20) prepares to throw a pass over Jacksonville’s Edyn Battle (10) during an NCAA women’s basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Marshall's Aarionna Redman (30) defends against Pikeville's India Blyth (45) in a college women's basketball exhibition game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Marshall’s Peyton Ilderton (20) prepares to throw a pass over Jacksonville’s Edyn Battle (10) during an NCAA women’s basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Marshall's Aarionna Redman (30) defends against Pikeville's India Blyth (45) in a college women's basketball exhibition game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Legendary DeMatha High School basketball coach Morgan Wooten famously said he learned more from losses than victories.
That’s how Marshall University women’s basketball coach Juli Fulks said she feels after three losses to teams from Power Four conferences, including Wednesday’s 67-64 setback at Cincinnati.
The Thundering Herd (4-6) lost 82-63 to Florida on Dec. 8, playing the Gators even in three of the four quarters. On Nov. 21, Marshall fell 74-59 to Penn State in a contest that was close much of the way.
“I’m proud that we’ve competed well with teams from the SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten,” Fulks said. “We had a chance in each of those games. We knew we had to play really well to win them.”
Penn State is 9-3, Cincinnati 9-2 and Florida 7-5.
Marshall had an excellent chance to knock off Cincinnati despite falling behind by 17 points in the first half. The Herd, though, missed 13 of 23 free throws.
Aislynn Hayes scored 24 points to lead Marshall. She was the only Herd player in double figures in scoring.
Marshall made 22 of 50 shots, including 15 of 25 in the second half, when it cut the deficit to one point with 53 seconds to play.
Fulks said the trip to Cincinnati was important. She said about 80 Marshall fans were there and she made a point to thank them after the game. The contest also showcased the Herd in a recruiting hotbed of high school basketball.
“There’s so much talent in Cincinnati, southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky,” Fulks said. “We were out recruiting [Wednesday] at a high school. It’s an area with great basketball.”
Fulks’s first high school signee since taking the Marshall job in April was Kassie Ingram from Kings High School in Mason, Ohio, near Cincinnati.
The Herd entertains Davis & Elkins (1-9) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cam Henderson Center. The NCAA Division II Senators lost nine in a row to open the season before beating Point Park 65-51 on Saturday.
Marshall begins Sun Belt Conference play Dec. 29 at home against Texas State.
