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 Cherita Smith had a team-high 15 points versus USI. |
Dec. 19, 2006
DETROIT - The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (3-6 overall) dropped a 72-69 non-league contest to visiting Southern Indiana (8-1) Tuesday at the Matthaei in downtown Detroit.
The first half was a see-saw battle with seven lead changes and the score was tied 10 times in the opening 20 minutes.
Sophomore Monique George (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech), in only her second game of the season, provided an offensive spark in the first half scoring nine points in only five minutes, while senior Cherita Smith (Grand Rapids, Mich./Union) contributed eight points in five minutes.
In the opening five minutes of the contest, the game was tied at 2, 4 and 6 as three different Warriors (Brittany White, Nicole Rogers and Chastidy Miller) made early buckets. WSU grabbed a 10-6 lead on a Smith lay-up at the 13:52 mark, and had a five-point advantage at 15-10 after Rogers split a pair from the foul line.
The Screaming Eagles scored the next seven points for a 17-15 lead, their first since 6-4. Then the match was tied at 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25. USI then had its largest lead of the first half (three points) at 28-25 following a triple by Marshay Jolly. Wayne State then rattled off nine consecutive points as Miller sank two free throws and George scored five points in just over 30 seconds with a lay-up and a three-pointer. Miller finished off the run with a lay-up as USI was held without a point for three minutes until Jolly scored on a fast break jumper.
The guests scored the final six points of the first half as the Warriors were blanked for the final 2:36.
The contest was tied four times in the second half, three of which came in the first four minutes after intermission.
WSU's last lead of the game came with 16:20 remaining at 41-40 on a triple by Smith. USI scored nine straight points, five by Akiya Alexander, for a 49-41 advantage at the 14:43 mark.
The Warriors battled back and over a span of 7:30 (14:43 to 7:13) outscoring the visitors 18-10 to knot the game at 59 on a lay-up by freshman Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson). After two USI foul shots by Sabrina Brandon, WSU missed its next four shots and were held off the scoresheet for nearly four minutes as the Screaming Eagles built a 66-59 lead.
After a jumper by Bowers snapped the drought, Rogers drained a jumper and Miller split a pair from the foul line pulling the Warriors within two at 66-64 with 2:37 remaining. After a defensive stop, Wayne State's Miller missed a triple and USI's Missy Glaser scored a fast break lay-up making it 68-64. Miller then sank two free throws to cut the deficit to two with 1:07 remaining. After Alexander missed two free throws for Southern Indiana, WSU had a turnover and Brandon made both foul shots for a 70-66 lead for USI.
Wayne State begins a seven-game road trip with two non-league contests in University Center this weekend. The Warriors play Lake Superior on Friday and Saginaw Valley on Saturday.
Notes:
WSU allowed a season-low tying two three-point field goals.
Cherita Smith had a season-best seven field goals made in recording her 36th career double-digit scoring effort.
Nicole Rogers had her first double-double of the season and the sixth of her with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The rebounding total was one shy of her season-best.
Chastidy Miller scored in double figures for the fifth consecutive game.
Monique George made her first career three-point field goal, and had her first double figure scoring effort since Nov. 22, 2005.
Brooke Bowers tied career-highs in points (12) and field goals made (5).
