Western Kentucky Lady Toppers guard Whitney Creech (5) and Old Dominion Lady Monarchs forward Maggie Robinson (20) compete for a loose ball during WKU's 75-60 win over Old Dominion on Saturday, January 5, 2019, at E. A. Diddle Arena. (Austin Anthony/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Part of Western Kentucky’s goal of improving defensive intensity is to limit the opposing team’s top player below her average.

It’s working so far through two games in Conference USA. One of the league’s best scorers is the next challenge for the Lady Toppers, who with a victory Saturday will be in a comfortable spot in the standings before a road swing.

WKU hosts Marshall on Saturday (2 p.m. CST, ESPN3) to wrap up a three-game homestand in the conference. The Lady Toppers (8-8 overall, 2-0 Conference USA) have had success in containing key players in wins against Charlotte and Old Dominion.

Marshall (8-7, 2-0) will ride Shayna Gore’s 18.1 points per game to try and remain unbeaten in C-USA. WKU enters Saturday with the upper hand in the series, holding a 10-1 advantage having not lost to the Thundering Herd since the league tournament in 2016.

“They’re hot and confident,” WKU coach Greg Collins said of the Thundering Herd. “Shayna Gore is probably one of the hottest players in the conference. She can get going at any moment. You may think you know what she’s going to do, but she creates her own offense at times and that’s tough to guard. They’re a real emotional team and momentum team and they’re obviously feeling pretty well right now.”

Gore is the fourth-leading scorer in C-USA behind WKU’s Dee Givens (18.6 points per game), North Texas guard Terriell Bradley (18.9 ppg) and league leader Kierra Anthony from Louisiana Tech (24.1 ppg).

The Marshall senior scored 22 points in both meetings against WKU last season.

Collins has noted WKU’s efforts to slow down primary scorers all season and how it’s finally turned into results against C-USA teams.

In the league opener against Charlotte, the 49ers entered Diddle Arena with point guard Laia Raventos averaging 11.3 points and 4.3 assists per game. WKU limited her to four points and two assists. On top of that, WKU held two other Charlotte players who average double figures in scoring (Jade Phillips and Mariah Linney) to single digits.

Ajah Wayne maintained her average of a double-double for Old Dominion in a loss to the Lady Toppers last Saturday, but Victoria Morris (12.1 ppg) scored just seven points and Taylor Edwards (11.6 ppg, 4.1 apg) played just five minutes.

“I think that’s something we’ve learned over the course of the season,” Collins said. “We tried to make sure we fouled (Louisville guard) Asia Durr, but we didn’t do a good job finding her. We tried to make sure we guarded (Iowa center Megan) Gustafson well and we didn’t do a good job with her.

“I think that’s something we’ve continued to improve on as the season has gone on. We’re making sure we’re locked in a little more and they’ll take that as a challenge defensively and make sure we hold her under her average.”

The Lady Toppers will likely have to carry that task without two players. Redshirt sophomore Arame Niang didn’t play against Old Dominion and will likely miss the Marshall game with a nagging knee injury.

Redshirt junior Alexis Brewer could be a game-time decision – and likely play sparingly if so – after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury.

Brewer, WKU’s third-leading scorer before the injury, said Friday she’s anxious to return and acknowledged the strong efforts from everyone else to put the Lady Toppers at 2-0 in league play. WKU’s next three opponents (Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Southern Mississippi) are each 0-3 in C-USA.

“I’m really proud of our team,” Brewer said. “It looks like it’s starting to click. Even without me on the floor we’ve played great, so that’s a big improvement on our team. I think everyone on the team has stepped up in their own way the past two games.”

Marshall (8-7, 2-0) at Western Kentucky (8-8, 2-0)

2 p.m., Saturday, E.A. Diddle Arena

Probable starters

Western Kentucky – Whitney Creech, g, 5-8, jr. (5.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg); Sherry Porter, g, 5-7, so. (6.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg); Meral Abdelgawad, g, 5-11, fr. (10.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg); Dee Givens, f, 6-1, r-jr. (18.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg); Raneem Elgedawy, f, 6-4, so. (15.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg)

Marshall – Shayna Gore, g/f, 5-8, sr. (18.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg); Taylor Porter, g, 5-8, r-sr. (10.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg); Kristen Mayo, g, 5-5, so. (8.9 ppg, 3.6 apg); Khadaijia Brooks, g/f, 5-10, r-jr. (8.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg); Taylor Pearson, f, 5-7, so. (5.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

TV – WKU PBS; Online – ESPN3

Radio ESPN 102.7 FM or 1450 AM

Coaches Greg Collins (8-8 first season), Western Kentucky; Tony Kemper (17-27 second season, 17-27 second overall) Marshall.

Series WKU leads 10-1 (WKU won the last meeting 77-50 on Feb. 17 at Diddle Arena)

Last time out

Western Kentucky won 75-60 against Old Dominion at home Jan. 5; Marshall defeated Charlotte 63-62 on Jan. 5 in Huntington, W.Va.