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 Kristen Rogers had 15 points, five assists and four rebounds. |
Feb. 2, 2006
FINDLAY, Ohio - For the second straight year, the WSU women's basketball team (7-12, 4-7 GLIAC) split the season series with Findlay (10-11, 4-8 GLIAC) as the Oilers went on a 23-9 run midway through the second half en route to their 70-58 win Thursday night at Croy Gymnasium.
Down 9-2 in the first four minutes of the game, the Warriors went on an 11-point run as Cherita Smith (Grand Rapids, Mich.) hit her first four shots and scored nine of WSU's first 16 points. Freshman Chastidy Miller (White Lake, Mich.) added eight points in the opening 11:10 to give Wayne State a 23-18 lead.
Senior guard Kristen Rogers (Lansing, Mich.) converted on a three-point play to put WSU up by six with 7:13 left in the half. Wayne State picked up on defense as it forced a shot clock violation and a three-second call over the next couple minutes.
Another Smith basket made it an eight-point game, but the Oilers tied the game at 30 with 1:15 to go. Miller came right back with a driving layup that gave the Warriors a two-point halftime advantage.
After Findlay had an over-and-back turnover to begin the second half, senior Casey Banks (Detroit, Mich.) scored on a bank shot. UF cut the Warrior lead to one, but Smith sank a three with 14:32 on the clock.
Just over a minute later, the Oilers took their first lead (45-43) since the early stages of the game on a three-point play by Michelle Vorst. Findlay eventually went up by 10 until Rogers hit a three with 4:41 remaining. UF hung on to earn the split.
The Warriors struggled from the field in the second half, shooting just 19.2 percent (5-of-26), but made 20-of-23 (87.0 percent) at the line.
Smith led WSU with 18 points, while Rogers had 15 and Miller added 14 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Wayne State travels to GLIAC South-leading Ashland on Saturday.
