Western Kentucky sophomore guard Sherry Porter brings the ball up the court during WKU’s 85-55 win over Marshall on Saturday at E.A. Diddle Arena.

It’s what Sherry Porter didn’t do that Greg Collins wants recognized instead of the most talked-about statistic.

Regardless, both columns marked an important moment for the Western Kentucky sophomore and her development into a reliable point guard.

Porter scored a career-high 20 points in WKU’s 85-55 win over Marshall on Saturday to help the Lady Toppers (9-8 overall, 3-0 Conference USA) open league play with three victories.

The best game of her career came on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and a 3-for-3 mark on 3-pointers.

But the zero in the turnover column is what WKU’s coach immediately deflected to when asked about Porter’s night.

“More importantly she played 27 minutes and had zero turnovers,” Collins said. “She’s learning the game and how to make the right reads and find players.”

Porter has started 13 of WKU’s 17 games and Saturday was her first game of the season without a turnover. She also added four rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist to her stat line.

The 5-foot-7 guard split most of the point duties with Whitney Creech, who had four assists and one turnover in 21 minutes.

“I think that shows as much maturity in that position because that point guard spot is a pressure spot, so they’re both showing a lot of maturity,” Collins said.

Facing that pressure is something Porter is learning to deal with consistently. The Baton Rouge, La., native started 15 games and averaged 18.7 minutes as a freshman. Entering Saturday’s contest, Porter had already tied her assist totals from a year ago with a sharpened scoring hand.

By scoring 10 points last week against Old Dominion and her 20 points against the Thundering Herd, Porter now has back-to-back double-digit scoring games for the first time in her 50 games played.

Porter scored half her points in the third quarter against Marshall.

“I didn’t even realize I had that many points,” Porter said after the game. “I was just out there playing and having fun. It felt good to be in the game with that many points. I think I’m more relaxed than my freshman year. I’m growing into my role on the team.

“My biggest role on the team is bringing energy and I bring it every night and at practice. That helps me to relax.”

Porter has even expanded her 3-point shooting, which hasn’t been a strength in the past. She hit two 3-pointers against Old Dominion and followed it up with one in the first half against Marshall and two triples in the third quarter.

Redshirt junior Alexis Brewer sat out last season because of transfer rules and watched Porter build her identity as a defense-first player. Brewer acknowledged Saturday how much the sophomore has evolved her game this season.

“She’s really grown on the offensive end,” Brewer said. “Tonight, they were sagging off her and she knocks down the 3s. She’s really worked hard offensively. She had the defense last year and now she’s putting it all together.”{&end}