 |
 Jasmine McCall scored a game-high 20 points in the win over Edinboro. |
Dec. 31, 2008
DETROIT - The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (3-7 overall) snapped a four-game losing streak with an 81-76 triumph over visiting Edinboro University (5-4) Wednesday evening at the Matthaei. The win also avenges a 71-65 setback at EU on Nov. 30.
The Warriors scored nine of the first 11 points to open an early seven point lead. Senior Chastidy Miller (White Lake, Mich./Waterford Kettering) scored the first five points, before jumpers by senior Jasmine McCall (Detroit, Mich./CMA) and junior Lindsey West (Royal Oak, Mich./Kimball) gave the hosts a 9-2 lead just 2:40 into the match.
WSU's lead remained between four and seven points until a triple by freshman Felicia Thomas (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central) at the 12:40 mark made it 21-12. After a lay-up by EU's Casey Heller, Wayne State responded with the next seven points for a 28-14 advantage. McCall sandwiched two fast break lay-ups around a three-pointer by junior Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson).
The Fighting Scots went on a 13-7 run to pull within eight at 35-27 on a jumper by Kelsey Whittelsey with just under five minutes remaining in the first half.
The Warriors answered by scoring seven of the next nine points for a 13-point lead at 42-29.
EU had a 7-0 run which included five points by Samantha Reimer before McCall drained a triple just before the buzzer ending the first half.
WSU led 45-36 at intermission after shooting 58 percent (18-of-31) from the floor compared to 56 percent for EU (14-of-25). The biggest difference in the opening 20 minutes was on the boards, where the Warriors had a 19-8 advantage.
Wayne State scored nine of the first 10 points of the second half for its largest lead of the game (17) at 54-37. West scored from inside, McCall hit another three-pointer and a lay-up, before junior Brittany Smith (Milwaukee, Wis./Riverside) concluded the run with a lay-up.
Edinboro rallied to pull within seven at 59-52 with just under 11 minutes left. During the 15-5 Fighting Scot run, the scoring was spread around with Kelsey Conklin and Renee Brown each contributing four points.
WSU's lead stayed between seven and 11 until a conventional three-point play by Reimer made it 71-65 with 3:50 remaining. Smith scored on a jumper seconds later, but Conklin had an offensive put-back to keep the deficit at six for the visitors.
Miller scored on a lay-up from classmate Joy Nash (Muskegon, Mich.) but EU's Micki Cerchiaro split a pair from the foul line. Smith's offensive put-back gave the Warriors a nine-point advantage at 77-68.
Conklin scored from inside and following a WSU turnover, Cerchiaro had an offensive put-back making it 77-72 with two minutes left. Wayne State was unable to score on its next two possessions with Reimer hitting back-to-back foul shots with 51 seconds remaining to pull the Fighting Scots within three at 77-74.
Smith scored on a lay-up late in the shot clock, but Reimer answered with her own bucket keeping it a three-point contest at 79-76. Nash made a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left for the final scoring.
McCall scored a game-high 20 points, while Smith had her first double-double for the Green and Gold with 16 points and 10 rebounds. West also had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Miller added 15 points.
Conklin and Reimer each had 18 points for Edinboro, who was out-rebounded by the Warriors 40-22. WSU had 15 offensive rebounds to 13 defensive rebounds for the Fighting Scots.
Wayne State's remaining 17 games are all GLIAC contests starting with a 4 p.m. tip-off Saturday at Northwood.
Notes:
Chastidy Miller moved into a tie-for-13th in career scoring at WSU with current assistant coach Kristen Rogers with 1,056 points.
Brooke Bowers moved into 33rd place passing Angela Davis (1990-94) with 636 points.
Jasmine McCall moved into 43rd place with 533 points, one point ahead of Debbie Spranger (1986-90).
