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 Bethany Mesko had 11 points and four rebounds in the loss at Northwood. |
Jan. 6, 2007
Midland, Mich. - The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (4-10 overall, 2-2 GLIAC) began 2007 with an 84-62 road loss at Northwood University (7-6 overall, 1-4 GLIAC) Saturday evening.
WSU started strong scoring the first four points of the game on a lay-up by sophomore guard Joy Nash (Muskegon, Mich.) and a jumper by freshman center Rebecca Meyer (Brighton, Mich.).
The Warriors and the Timberwolves battled closely the first 10 minutes with three lead changes and both teams making seven field goals. WSU held an 18-17 advantage following a lay-up by junior center Bethany Jury (Plymouth, Mich./Livonia Ladywood) with 9:12 remaining.
Over the next 5:15, Wayne State made just two of eight field goal attempts plus had five turnovers as the hosts connected on four of eight shots from the floor including two triples to build a 30-20 lead with 4:42 remaining before half.
The same trend continued for the final five minutes of the first half as Northwood outscored WSU 11-5. The Warriors committed four turnovers and made only two of six field goal attempts. At the other end, NU made five of its seven field goal attempts for a 41-25 halftime advantage.
Both teams attempted 30 shots from the floor in the opening 20 minutes with WSU making 11 and Northwood 16. Both squads were 50 percent from beyond the arc (WSU 3-6, NU 4-8), with the Timberwolves making five of six free throws. Wayne State did not attempt a free throw in the first half.
In the first 4:30 of the second half, WSU outscored the hosts 11-8 as four different players made field goals. Northwood answered with an 9-2 run for a 20-point advantage at 58-38 with 13:18 left in the contest.
After a lay-up by Jury at 11:40, the Warriors went nearly 3:30 without a point until sophomore guard Chastidy Miller (White Lake, Mich./Waterford Kettering) hit a jumper and senior forward Bethany Mesko (Traverse City, Mich./Central) followed with a jumper.
Wayne State made only 38.7 percent (24 of 62) from the field while Northwood connected on 28 of its 49 attempts for 57.1 percent. The Warriors did win the rebounding battle 34-33 as Miller and senior Cherita Smith (Grand Rapids, Mich./Union) each grabbed a team-best five boards.
Wayne State continues its road trip with a Thursday evening contest at Ashland University.
Notes:
Senior Bethany Mesko made three of six from the floor and all four of her free throw attempts for 11 points. It was her first game in double figures since Dec. 9 against Hillsdale and her fourth double digit performance of the season.
Senior Cherita Smith made four field goals, three from beyond the arc to tie Mesko for team-high scoring honors with 11 points.
