Jan. 11, 2006

Wayne State (5-7, 2-2 GLIAC) hosts
Ashland (8-7, 3-2) & Findlay (8-7, 2-4)
Jan. 12 - 5:30 pm/Jan. 14 - 1:00 pm
Matthaei - Detroit, Mich.

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• GAME STORYLINES
The Warrior women's basketball team concludes its season-long five-game homestand this week with a pair of GLIAC South contests. Ashland will visit the Matthaei on Thursday, followed by a match-up against Findlay on Saturday.

Wayne State won its last two games as the Warriors out-rebounded Marygrove and Northwood by a combined 105-68. WSU is leading the conference in rebounding offense at 44.2 boards per game, 3.4 more than any other team. The Warriors are also best in the GLIAC in steals at 13.92.

WSU returns to the road next week with a trek to the Upper Peninsula to face Michigan Tech (Jan. 19) and Northern Michigan (Jan. 21).

• ON THE BENCH
Wayne State head coach Gloria Bradley has a 71-76 mark in her sixth season at WSU. Bradley is 185-145 in 12 seasons overall.

Sue Ramsey owns a 158-133 record at Ashland and sixth-year Oiler head coach Carolyn Mair is 59-65 at UF.

• SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
After a 2-5 start, the Eagles have won six of their last eight games, but are 0-5 in road games. Ashland is the best free throw shooting team in the league at 76.6 percent and is second with a 47.1 percent from the floor. AU's leading scorer Amber Rall ranks second in the GLIAC at 17.5 points per game.

Findlay, who has lost three of its last four, is right behind AU in free throw percentage at 76.4 and is No. 1 in the conference with 4.33 blocks per game. Michelle Vorst leads the team at 13.8 ppg.

• IN THE POLLS
Wayne State was selected to place sixth in South Division in the GLIAC coaches' preseason poll. Ashland (18 points) and Findlay (16) ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the South poll.

• THE SERIES

Ashland leads, 17-11, in the all-time series and has won the last three against WSU. The Oilers own a 10-8 mark over Wayne State as the teams split the 2004-05 series.

• LAST GAME NOTES
Senior Kristen Rogers hit 7-of-9 three-pointers and finished with 24 points as the Wayne State women's basketball team returned to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Saturday, Jan. 7, with an 80-53 win over visiting Northwood.

After a slow start by both teams, Rogers pulled up for a fast-break three-point basket that gave WSU a 5-4 lead. Northwood scored five straight until another Rogers three and a layup by sister Nicole Rogers put the Warriors back on top. The teams exchanged leads until WSU went on a 12-0 run to grab a 26-15 advantage capped off by Ralphanee Peyton's layup with 7:08 on the clock.

The T'Wolves cut their deficit down to five, but Kristen Rogers knocked down back-to-back three-pointers and the Warriors held a 38-26 halftime lead.

WSU maintained its double-digit lead in the second half as it grew to 46-31 on a steal and layup by Cherita Smith. Then Nicole Rogers' three from newcomer Jessica Howard put Wayne State up 57-41.

Kristen Rogers hit her sixth three of the game with 3:53 to play to give the Warriors a 20-point cushion at 71-51. Her seventh trey came in the final minute, putting her one shy of her own school record.

The Warriors also out-rebounded Northwood, 50-33, as four players contributed with six boards apiece.