 |
 Chastidy Miller had a game-high 19 points and five steals. |
Jan. 11, 2007
The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (5-10 overall, 3-2 GLIAC) rallied from a five-point halftime deficit for a 60-54 triumph at Ashland University (8-8 overall, 2-5 GLIAC) Thursday evening.
After a see-saw start which saw the game tied three times in the first five minutes, the Warriors went on a 7-0 run for a 13-6 advantage at the 11:55 mark. Sophomore Chastidy Miller (White Lake, Mich./Waterford Kettering) drained a triple and junior Nicole Rogers (Lansing, Mich./Everett) hit a jumper in the paint following an offensive rebound, while senior Cherita Smith (Grand Rapids, Mich./Union) completed the run with a jumper.
WSU had another seven point lead at 18-11 following a three-pointer by Smith with 9:32 remaining. The teams traded hoops with Wayne State making its final field goal of the opening 20 minutes at the 7:27 mark on a lay-up by junior Bethany Jury (Plymouth, Mich./Livonia Ladywood).
The host Eagles scored four straight before sophomore Monique George (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech) split a pair from the foul line for a 23-20 WSU advantage with 5:35 left.
Ashland then scored the final eight points of the first half for a 28-23 lead at intermission.
The Warriors scored the first six points of the second half on a lay-up by George and back-to-back buckets by sophomore guard Joy Nash (Muskegon, Mich.). Neither team had more than a three point lead for the next four points until WSU freshman Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson) hit a triple giving the guests a 41-35 lead with 13:16 left.
A Miller fast break lay-up preceded eight consecutive points by Ashland which knotted the score at 43 with 10:30 remaining. Miller then split a pair of foul shots, and followed that with a steal and lay-up for a three point advantage.
A Jury jumper made it 48-43 before AU scored four straight points. A Nash jumper regained a three point lead at 50-47. The Eagles scored the next four points for a 51-50 lead until Smith hit a jumper with 2:50 left. Two foul shots by AU's Amber Rall gave the home team a one point lead but Nash answered with a jumper at the 1:36 mark.
An Ashland turnover then foul allowed Nash two make to free throws giving the Warriors a 56-53 lead. AU's Catherine Portyrata split a pair from the charity stripe, and Miller answered with a jumper giving WSU a 58-54 lead with 24 seconds left. After a missed three-pointer by Ashland, Rogers completed the scoring with two free throws.
Wayne State closes out it its seven-game road trip with a Saturday afternoon contest (1 p.m.) at Findlay.
Notes:
Chastidy Miller had a career-high five steals as WSU recorded 19 steals as a team. She also equaled a career-high with eight field goals made.
Even though WSU was out rebounded 46-26, the Warriors had 20 more field goal attempts thanks to only 11 turnovers compared to AU's 28 turnovers.
Joy Nash had 14 points for her 19th career double-digit performance.
Monique George had a career-best three steals.
