Jan. 16, 2006

Wayne State (6-8, 3-3 GLIAC) at
Michigan Tech (10-4, 6-1 GLIAC) & Northern Michigan (5-9, 1-6 GLIAC)
Jan. 19 - 5:30 pm/Jan. 21 - 11:30 am

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• GAME STORYLINES
For the first time since Dec. 18, the Wayne State women's basketball team hits the road. The Warriors travel to Michigan Tech on Jan. 19, followed by a Jan. 21 match-up at Northern Michigan.

WSU, who won three of its last four games, is coming off an overtime win against Findlay that equaled its win total from last season. The Warriors also recorded a season-high 24 steals in the Findlay game, improving their league-leading average to 14.21 per game.

Senior guard Kristen Rogers has found her shooting touch. She is averaging 15.4 points in WSU's last five games, compared to 5.1 in the first nine contests.

Freshman Chastidy Miller has also been a spark off the bench of late. During the past four games, she is averaging 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds a game.

The Warriors return to Detroit for a pair of games against nationally-ranked teams: Grand Valley (Jan. 26) and Lake Superior (Jan. 28).

•ON THE BENCH
Wayne State head coach Gloria Bradley has a 72-77 mark in her sixth season at WSU. Bradley is 186-146 in 12 seasons overall.

Michigan Tech's third-year head coach John Barnes is 47-23, while long-time NMU men's assistant Troy Mattson is 5-9 in his first season as the women's head coach.

•SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Huskies, who are 4-0 at home, have lost their last two games after beginning the season 10-2. Junior guard Catherine Rottier is ninth in the league in assists (3.79) and 10th in scoring (13.9).

Northern Michigan has lost five of its last six games. Maria Kasza, a sophomore guard, averages a team-best 13.6 points while shooting 42.5 percent (37-of-87) on three-point attempts.

• IN THE POLLS
Wayne State was selected to place sixth in South Division in the GLIAC coaches' preseason poll. Tech earned one first-place vote and 31 total points in second place in the North balloting, while the Wildcats had 12 points in sixth place.

• THE SERIES
The Warriors trail in both all-time series. MTU leads the series with Wayne State, 26-14, and Northern is up 25-11 in the series with WSU.

• LAST GAME NOTES
WSU got 17 points apiece from Bethany Mesko and Chastidy Miller as the Warriors overcame a slow start to defeat the University of Findlay, 81-77, in overtime Jan. 14 at the Matthaei. Wayne State recorded a season-high 24 steals and 29 free throws in its second overtime game of the year.

After missing their first 13 shots in the opening 5:55, the Warriors got on the board with a jumper by senior Casey Banks. The Oilers' lead grew to 14-2 as WSU was 1-of-20 from the floor in the first nine minutes of the game. But Wayne State scored 12 straight points to tie the game highlighted by Mesko's four-point play after an intentional foul was called on UF.

The Warrior defense, which had 11 steals in the first 12:34, helped on a transition basket by Miller. Banks then had a turnaround jumper and block that led to a Cherita Smith go-ahead basket to put WSU up 22-20. Following Findlay's 14th turnover of the half, senior Kristen Rogers drove the baseline for an easy layup and a four-point lead.

UF went on an 11-2 run during the final 2:45 of the half to hold a 31-26 lead going into the locker room.

Rogers tied the game at 33 with a three-pointer, a steal and a layup just three minutes into the second half. Findlay went on top 46-38 before Miller scored on a three-point play with 13:27 left on the clock.

Down by eight with 6:05 left, Mesko drained a trey from the left corner. Moments later, Smith hit a deep three and Rogers drove the baseline to make it a one-point game at 62-61 with 3:59 to play. After a Findlay timeout, the Oilers turned the ball over for the fifth time in just over two minutes of action.

Miller then got a steal under WSU's own basket and put in a layup. Mesko's free throw with 1:47 left tied the game at 66. Miller was fouled with 4.7 seconds left, but she missed both free throws after making 10 of her first 11 at the line.

In overtime, Rogers put the Warriors ahead with two free throws. WSU's lead grew to five points after a Ralphanee Peyton bucket and a three by Rogers with just under three minutes to go. The Oilers tied the game twice in the final two minutes before Peyton scored a three-point play with 45.0 seconds remaining.

Miller forced an Oiler turnover with 5.1 seconds left and Rogers grabbed the loose ball. Rogers went to the line and clinched the win with two free throws.

Rogers led the team with 18 points, five assists and five steals.