Marshall University’s women’s basketball team is in the midst of its most successful season since 2011-2012 as the team pulled out a 66-59 win Saturday against Florida Atlantic University in the Cam Henderson Center.

Junior point guard Norrisha Victrum set a new career high in points with 21; going a perfect 8-8 from the free throw stripe.

“I think my role is to bring energy because when I have good demeanor and bring energy, everybody else follows,” Victrum said.

The Thundering Herd started the game in a full court press and held the Owls to just 17 points in the first half while scoring 29 of its own. However, foul trouble kept senior center Chika Ezeigbo on the bench for much of the second half, and FAU took a 46-45 lead with 7:50 left in the contest.

Head coach Matt Daniel said he was proud of how the team stepped up when it was do or die.

“I don’t think the stat sheet does the team victory justice,” Daniel said.

Marshall was picked to finish last in the conference once again this preseason but now has its best start to a conference season since 2011-2012 with a 3-2 record in C-USA.

Senior forward Leah Scott said she thinks about the last place conference prediction often.

“Every time I step on the floor I just get angry because I don’t feel like we should be picked last,” Scott said.

Florida Atlantic is the youngest team in the NCAA with 8 freshman making up 62 percent of its roster. The Owls depended on one of their veterans, redshirt junior guard Ali Gorrell to carry them in the contest. Gorrell chipped in a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Ezeigbo also had a double-double for the Thundering Herd with 10 points and 12 rebounds, going 5-7 from the field and adding to her 68.1 percent field goal percentage.

Marshall increased its record to 11-5 while FAU dropped to 8-8. The Thundering Herd travels to San Antonio to face its next conference foe, the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners Thursday.

Adam Polsky can be contacted at [email protected].