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 Monique George scored the game-winning basket with less than 10 seconds remaining. |
Jan. 18, 2007
DETROIT - For the third time this season, the Wayne State University women's basketball squad (7-10 overall, 5-2 GLIAC) rallied from a halftime deficit for a victory this time a 62-61 triumph over visiting Michigan Tech (11-6 overall, 5-4 GLIAC) Thursday evening at the Matthaei.
WSU trailed 61-58 with 43 seconds remaining after MTU's Alicia Schneider's lay-up and missed free throw. Less than 10 seconds later, Warrior sophomore guard Joy Nash (Muskegon, Mich.) drained a jumper to cut the deficit to one. After a timeout by the Huskies, sophomore Monique George (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech) intercepted an errant pass by MTU's Katie Zimmerman and then put back a Nicole Rogers (Lansing, Mich./Everett) missed lay-up attempt for the game-winning basket with 9.8 seconds on the clock. Despite a Huskie foul following an MTU turnover, Nash missed both free throws allowing the visitors one last desperation shot by Sarah Stream which was off the mark.
The key to the dramatic finish was Wayne State's defense over the final 4:50 which limited Michigan Tech only to Schneider's aforementioned lay-up. In fact, MTU scored just eight points in the final 10:23 of the contest after taking a 53-45 lead on a jumper by Katie Wysocky.
After Wysocky's triple had given the Huskies a 59-53 lead with 4:51 remaining, the Warrior rally started with a George free throw followed by a fast break lay-up by senior Cherita Smith (Grand Rapids, Mich./Union) off a nice pass from freshman guard Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson). After a steal by Smith and an offensive rebound by Rogers, Nicole made one of two at the foul line making it a two point contest at 59-57 with 3:08 left. WSU sophomore Chastidy Miller (White Lake, Mich./Waterford Kettering) split a pair from the charity stripe to cut the deficit to one with 1:51 left setting up the final minute heroics.
The first half saw four lead changes and the game being tied four times. Rogers had 11 points at the intermission to lead the Warriors who shot just 35.3 percent (12 of 34) from the field in the opening 20 minutes. Wysocky led MTU with 11 points and nine boards in the first half with the Huskies holding their largest lead (eight points) at 36-28 with less than a minute remaining until Nash hit a jumper pulling the Warriors within six at the break.
Michigan Tech had a 12-point advantage three times in the second half before the stellar defense by Wayne State ignited the comeback. The Warriors had 14 steals as MTU committed 21 turnovers. Michigan Tech entered the contest third in the nation in fewest turnovers per game at 13.8.
Miller finished with a team-best 14 points with Rogers adding 12. George contributed seven points and nine boards. Wysocky led all scorers with 24 points and 16 rebounds.
Wayne State plays its final home game of January this Saturday at 1 p.m. versus Northern Michigan.
Notes:
Senior Cherita Smith tied a career-high with six steals, which is one away from WSU's best this season.
Nicole Rogers equaled a career-best with three three-pointers.
Wayne State is third in the GLIAC South Division heading into Saturday's home contest versus Northern Michigan. The Warriors have a three game lead over Ashland and a three ½ game advantage on Mercyhurst.
Both teams made 23 field goals and shot 18 free throws.
