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TULSA, Okla. – Marshall junior forward Tynikki Crook recorded her seventh double-double in seven Conference USA Tournament games, but UCF's Chelsie Wiley countered with 19 to lead UCF to a 59-57 win over the Herd women’s basketball team in the opening round of the 2010 Conference USA Championship on Monday, March 8.

Crook scored 18 points while grabbing 12 rebounds. Mystee Dale had a career-high 21 points, including hitting 10-of-13 from the free throw line, while the rest of MU's players only made 2-of-8.

The Herd finishes the season with a 14-16 mark, the first time the Herd has finished with a losing season since the 2002-03 season.  UCF advances to play top-seeded Tulane.

Marshall jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead just over two minutes in as Crook hit back-to-back buckets.  UCF stormed back with the next six points to take their first lead of the contest two minutes later, a lead they would hold into the second half.

Turnovers were the problem for the Herd for the remainder of the half  as MU turned it over 17 times the first 20 minutes of play, 27 times in the contest.

The Herd cut the deficit to three points on a pair of occasions before the Knights wrapped up the half on an 8-1 run to take a 27-17 lead at halftime.

Crook chipped in another pair of field goals as Marshall opened up the second half on a 6-1 run to cut the lead to five, 28-23.

With UCF up five, 37-32, Marshall reeled off the next seven points to retake the lead, 39-37, with eight minutes remaining in the game. Following a three by Dale, the first trey of the game for MU, Crook and Erica Woods scored to put Marshall back on top.

Another bucket by Dale gave Marshall its largest lead of the game at 41-37 before Chelsie Wiley hit a free throw to end the 9-0 run.

Marshall extended the lead to six points, 47-41, following a free throw by Kendra King with 2:43 remaining.

On the ensuing trip down the floor, UCF cut the lead in half as Wiley knocked down her third trey of the game.  Wiley struck again as she connected on her fourth three-pointer of the game with 32 seconds left to tie the game at 47-47 and send the game into overtime.

Marshall missed a chance to go up five when Kendra King missed a lay-up just prior to Wiley's three to force overtime.

Mealing hit the sixth trey of the game for the Knights in their opening possession. Marshall fought back, taking its first lead in the extra period on a Crook layup with 1:56 remaining.

The lead switch two more times before a pair of Cannon free throws put UCF up 55-53 with 42 ticks left. Wiley hit all four free throws in the final 23 seconds to seal the game for UCF.

Marshall finished the game with a decided shooting advantage, hitting 44 percent to just 32 percent for the Knights, but turned the ball over 27 times while forcing UCF into 19. The Herd was also out-rebounded, 44-40.

Wiley was the lone double-digit scorer for UCF.  She hit 4-of-8 threes and five out of six free throws.