 |
 Brooke Bowers had a career-high 24 points in the win over Findlay. |
Feb. 1, 2007
DETROIT - The Wayne State University women's basketball team (9-12 overall, 7-4 GLIAC) improved its stranglehold on a GLIAC tournament berth with an 82-71 triumph over the visiting Findlay Oilers (4-18 overall, 0-12 GLIAC) Thursday evening at the Matthaei.
In a hotly contested opening 20 minutes, the lead changed hands eight times but the Warriors 10-point advantage with 7:37 remaining was dwindled to five at the intermission. WSU started strong as junior Nicole Rogers (Lansing, Mich./Everett) grabbed an offensive rebound on Wayne State's opening possession and drained a triple. Just over 30 seconds later, after missing a triple try of her own, senior Cherita Smith (Grand Rapids, Mich./Union) hit a baseline jumper for a 5-0 lead. UF scored seven of the next eight points to take a 7-6 lead.
Following that the game was tied at 11, 13 and 15, before the Warriors went on a 12-4 run keyed by a Rogers three-pointer, a lay-up by freshman Rebecca Meyer (Brighton, Mich.), and a jumper by sophomore Monique George (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech). The lead grew to 10 twice at 29-19 and 34-24, but Findlay tallied 12 of the final 19 points before intermission.
Both teams had 20 rebounds in the first half, and the field goal percentage was nearly even (WSU - 42.4, UF - 44.4), with the biggest difference in turnovers - six for Wayne State to 11 for Findlay.
The Oilers outscored WSU 10-4 in the first 4:07 of the second half to grab a 46-45 lead on a fast break lay-up by Brittany Wells. The Warriors responded by scoring 10 of the next 11 points on an offensive put back by freshman Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson), and back-to-back triples 35 seconds apart by Bowers. Sophomore Chastidy Miller (White Lake, Mich./Waterford Kettering) finished off the run with a jumper from sophomore guard Joy Nash (Muskegon, Mich.).
Findlay put together a run and pulled within three at 58-55 with 9:48 remaining on another fast break lay-up by Wells. But Bowers fourth triple of the game gave WSU a six-point advantage and the lead never was less than four the rest of the contest. Wayne State had an 11-2 run following a jumper by UF's Katie Greisiger.
Bowers led all scorers with 24 points as four Warriors reached double figures. Rogers nearly had a double-double with 18 points, nine rebounds plus six assists.
Wayne State can wrap up a 2007 GLIAC tournament berth with a home court win on Saturday against Ashland. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. at the Matthaei on the WSU campus.
Notes:
Wayne State won for the 10th time in the last 13 meetings against Findlay including the fifth straight victory at home over the Oilers.
This is WSU's third season sweep of UF this decade (2002-03 and 2003-04).
The Warriors are 6-0 when leading at halftime.
Chastidy Miller had her 27th career double-digit game with 12 points.
Brooke Bowers had career-highs in points (24), field goals made (7) and minutes played (31) in recording her second 20+-point game of her rookie campaign.
Nicole Rogers tied career-highs in field goals made (7 - first was Jan. 13, 2007, at Findlay), and three-point field goals made (3), while finishing one point shy of her career high. She tied her career-best with six assists.
Ralphanee Peyton had 10 points, her first double-digit game since her final game last season on Feb. 18 at Saginaw Valley.
