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 Brooke Bowers scored 12 points off the bench to help WSU down NMU. |
Jan. 20, 2007
DETROIT - The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (8-10 overall, 6-2 GLIAC) extended its winning streak to four games with a 63-54 triumph over visiting Northern Michigan University (6-13 overall, 2-8 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon at the Matthaei.
After the score was tied twice (3-3 and 5-5) in the first 3:10, WSU scored five straight points on a jumper by sophomore Chastidy Miller (White Lake, Mich./Waterford Kettering) and a triple by junior Nicole Rogers (Lansing, Mich./Everett), her second in the first 4:15 of the contest, for a 10-5 lead. Over the next 4:30, the Warriors maintained at least a four-point advantage until Wildcat Cassi Rushford hit a lay-up to make it 16-14 WSU with 11:24 left in the first half.
Senior Cherita Smith (Grand Rapids, Mich./Union) responded with a triple and junior Bethany Jury (Plymouth, Mich./Livonia Ladywood) scored from the paint for a seven-point lead.
Wayne State had its largest lead of the opening 20 minutes at 28-18 following a jumper by freshman Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson) with 3:38 remaining. NMU had an 8-0 run before junior Brittany White (Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park) hit a jumper with 1:00 left. The visitors then scored the final three points pulling within one at intermission.
The second half started out much the same way the first half ended for the Warriors as they missed their first three field goal tries, until sophomore Monique George (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech) scored inside at 17:55 to regain the lead at 32-30.
NMU's Angie Leckson scored the next six points giving the guests their first lead of the contest at 36-32. WSU rallied with the next four points to tie the game at 36, and two free throws by Miller gave the Warriors the lead for good at 38-37. The Wayne State run continued with back-to-back jumpers by George and foul shots by sophomore Joy Nash (Muskegon, Mich.) and Jury.
A jumper by Wildcat Allison Carroll with 10:47 remaining pulled the visitors within five at 44-39, the closest the game would be the rest of the way. A three-pointer by Bowers and a jumper by Miller increased the Wayne State lead to 10 at 49-39.
Wayne State made seven of its final eight free throw attempts in the last 2:17 to secure the victory.
Bowers and George tied for team-high honors with 12 points, with Miller adding 11 and four assists. Jury grabbed nine boards, while Rogers contributed eight rebounds and nearly had a double-double with nine points. Nash had five assists, seven points, two steals and only one turnover in 35 minutes.
Carroll had game-high totals in points (16) and rebounds (11).
Wayne State has two road games this week starting Thursday at Grand Valley (6 p.m.). Following Saturday's contest at Lake Superior (1 p.m.), WSU returns home to face Findlay (Feb. 1) and Ashland (Feb. 3).
The Warriors are ½ game behind Hillsdale for second place in the South Division, and lead fourth place Ashland by three games with nine league contests remaining.
Notes:
Wayne State has won four straight for the first time since a four-game winning streak from Jan. 21, 2004, through Feb. 5, 2004.
The 54 points allowed is tied-for-the fewest allowed this year (Ashland also scored 54 on Jan. 11).
The 18 field goals made by an opponent is the lowest total allowed by the Warriors this season.
The opponent field goal percentage of .321 is the lowest total against WSU this year.
Wayne State did not allow a three-point basket against Northern Michigan (0-13), the first time since Jan. 30, 2002, when Michigan-Dearborn went 0-1 from beyond the arc. The time previous to that was Nov. 25, 2001, against West Virginia Wesleyan at the Ashland tournament as the Bobcats were zero-for-eight on three-pointers.
Ralphanee Peyton played for the first time since Feb. 18, 2006, a span of 20 games. She had two points and a rebound in eight minutes against NMU.
