HUNTINGTON, WV - Junior guard Ebonie Williams called it the biggest shot of her career.
Perhaps she took some pointers from Eugene Harvey following the men's basketball team's last second win on Friday vs. St. Peter's. In any event, Seton Hall basketball has a flair for the dramatic these days.
Williams drilled a three with 16 seconds left to give Seton Hall its first lead of the night and the one that mattered most, as the Pirates defeated Marshall 53-51 on Monday night at Cam Henderson Center.
Most of the Pirates sprinted off the court after the final buzzer, leaping in jubilation after the inprobable finish.
"We want Ebonie to have the ball in her hands and to make the decisions," head coach Phyllis Mangina said. "We've got great confidence in her and she's got great confidence in herself."
The women's basketball team is now 2-0 after sweeping its opening road trip of the season.
Senior Nicole Emery finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Hall.
Sophomore Kandice Green added 11 points and 13 rebounds. She also sealed the game with a key rebound over Thundering Herd forward Tynikki Crook as time expired.
Williams scored 17 points on 7-21 shooting.
"They went under the screen so I shot it," Williams said of the final play. A successful pick by her teammates allowed the three-pointer to get off without any serious defensive threat by the Thundering Herd.
Marshall jumped out to an early lead in the first half, going up by as much as 11 right before the intermission.
The Thundering Herd, now 0-2, were paced by Crook with 15 points and 10 rebounds and forward Alyssa Hammond with10 points.
Seton Hall will return home to South Orange and make their 2009-2010 Walsh Gymnasium debut over the weekend in the Anaconda Sports The Rock SHU Basketball Classic.
On Friday, the team will meet Morgan State followed by either Arkansas State or Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday.
Brian Wisowaty can be reached at brian.wisowaty@student.shu.edu.
