MOBILE, Ala. (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge and a pair of 17-point performances from Timaya Lewis-Eutsey and Ni’Kiah Chesterfield propelled the Marshall women’s basketball team to a 69-60 victory over South Alabama on Wednesday night at the Mitchell Center.

The Thundering Herd, improving to 19-6, weathered an early offensive flurry from the Jaguars before seizing control with a pivotal 19-9 advantage in the second period. That swing transformed an 18-12 first-quarter deficit into a 31-27 halftime lead for the visiting team.

Marshall’s offense, which had sputtered in the opening frame, found its rhythm behind the playmaking of Lewis-Eutsey. The 5-foot-8 guard from Trenton, New Jersey, orchestrated the turnaround, finishing with 17 points and a game-high six assists over 31 minutes. Her backcourt partner, Timberlynn Yeast of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, added 12 points.

The interior presence of Ni’Kiah Chesterfield proved equally vital. The 6-foot forward from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, matched Lewis-Eutsey’s 17 points, with 15 of those coming in the second half to help Marshall maintain its advantage. Her efficiency was a key factor as the Thundering Herd shot 42.6% from the field compared to South Alabama’s 35.9%.

South Alabama, which fell to 9-13, was led by Amyah Sutton’s game-high 19 points and five assists. Cordasia Harris, a hometown player from Hayneville, Alabama, added 16 points and was a force on the glass. The Jaguars started strong, connecting on three early three-pointers to build their first-quarter lead, but their shooting cooled considerably as the game progressed.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the second quarter. After South Alabama extended its lead to 23-15 on a Tamara Ortiz layup with 5:08 remaining in the half, Marshall’s defense ignited a decisive 14-2 run to close the period. The sequence was fueled by defensive stops and timely scoring. Lewis-Eutsey sparked the run with a steal and a layup, followed by a three-pointer from TreShondra Williams. After a South Alabama basket, Marshall closed the half with seven unanswered points, including a Lewis-Eutsey jumper and a three-pointer from Yeast just before the buzzer, to take a four-point lead into the break.

Marshall never relinquished that lead in the second half, though South Alabama stayed within striking distance. The Jaguars trimmed the deficit to 45-43 late in the third quarter following a layup from Harris, but Marshall answered with a 7-2 spurt to end the period, capped by a Ni’Kiah Chesterfield three-pointer.

The Thundering Herd extended their lead to as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter. South Alabama made a final push, closing to within 58-56 on a Diawna Carter-Hartley layup with 54 seconds remaining. Marshall, however, sealed the game at the free-throw line, with Lewis-Eutsey hitting a pair of clutch foul shots with 40 seconds left to restore a two-possession advantage.

Marshall’s offensive execution down the stretch, scoring on its final four possessions, contrasted with South Alabama’s missed opportunities in the final minute, securing the road conference win.

Beyond the scoring leaders, Marshall’s Meredith Maier of Fairmont, West Virginia, provided a crucial 15 points, including three three-pointers, in 36 minutes of action. The Thundering Herd won despite committing 14 turnovers, which South Alabama converted into 21 points, by outshooting the Jaguars from both the three-point line and the free-throw line. Marshall hit 9 of 25 from beyond the arc and 14 of 18 from the charity stripe, while South Alabama was 8 of 23 from deep and 6 of 8 from the line.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 393 at the Mitchell Center. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Marshall entered the game with an 88.6% probability to win.

Marshall next travels to face Central Michigan on Saturday. South Alabama will head to Western Michigan, also on Saturday.