Marshall’s Aislynn Hayes dribbles against South Alabama during the Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Pensacola, Fla.
Marshall's Meredith Maier dribbles against South Alabama during the Sun Belt Conference women's basketball tournament on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Pensacola, Fla.
Marshall’s Aislynn Hayes dribbles against South Alabama during the Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Pensacola, Fla.
Bobby McDuffie | Sun Belt Conference
Marshall's Meredith Maier dribbles against South Alabama during the Sun Belt Conference women's basketball tournament on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Pensacola, Fla.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — The defending Sun Belt Conference champion played like it Tuesday.
No. 11 seed Marshall (12-19) defeated 14th-seeded South Alabama 73-59 in the first round of the SBC women’s basketball tournament at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The Thundering Herd dominated, building a 24-point lead, never trailing and advancing to Wednesday’s 3 p.m. contest versus 10th seed Texas State (13-16).
Marshall took a 3-0 lead on a C.C. Mays jumper 45 seconds into the game on its way to a 21-6 lead.
“We wanted to throw the first punch and get it done,†Mays said of the fast start.
The Jaguars (6-24) showed some fight in the second quarter, pulling within 34-28 on a Nadia Howard 3-pointer to cap an 8-0 run with 1:01 left until halftime.
Then Marshall’s Aislynn Hayes swished a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left in the half. Meredith Maier added a steal and layup at the buzzer to make it 39-28, Herd.
“That was really important,†Mays said of the late spurt in the second period. “That gave us our momentum back. They made a run, and we counteracted that.â€
South Alabama’s Rachel Leggett said the Jaguars’ start was discouraging.
“They did what they wanted to do in the first quarter,†Leggett said.
Hayes said that was the plan.
“The first quarter was a great momentum-starter,†Hayes said. “We came out hot. Our defense was amazing.â€
The Herd put the game away in the third quarter, starting on a 7-1 run. After Leggett made a free throw, Marshall responded with a basket from Blessing King, then a bucket and a 3-pointer by Peyton Ilderton to boost the lead to 54-30.
King’s basket with 1:22 put the Herd ahead 72-54 before the Jaguars finished on a 5-1 run to set the score.
Marshall held South Alabama to eight points in the first quarter and nine in the third, all while trying to substitute liberally to preserve players’ energy for what it hopes is a tournament run that lasts all the way to Monday.
“We have to have the legs to fly around and build off that,†Herd coach Juli Fulks said. “Because of our ability to score, we can jump on people early.â€
Hayes led the way with 22 points. Mays scored 12 and Maier chipped in 11. Mays grabbed a team-best six rebounds.
Howard paced the Jaguars with 16 points and five rebounds.
Hayes credited her teammates for helping her score. Mays had none of that.
“I’m not going to let her be humble,†Mays said of Hayes. “She’s a bucket.â€
