Feb. 26, 2006

Wayne State (10-16, 7-10) at
Ashland (19-9, 13-4)
Feb. 28 - 5:30 pm • GLIAC Quarterfinal
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GAME STORYLINES
After a year hiatus, the Wayne State University women's basketball team returns to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament for the sixth time in the past seven seasons. The No. 4-seeded Warriors travel to Ashland, the South Division's top seed, on Tuesday for a quarterfinal match-up.

WSU won its last two conference games, including Saturday's 70-44 win over second-seeded Hillsdale, to earn the eighth and final playoff spot.

AU and Wayne State squared off earlier this month, with the Eagles coming away with a 91-72 victory at Kates Gymnasium where they are 11-1 this season. Ashland also defeated WSU in Detroit by a similar score of 89-71 on Jan. 12.

Tuesday's first-round winners will head to the league's final four, hosted by the top overall seed, on March 3-4. Wayne State has made it to the GLIAC Semifinals just once. The Warriors defeated Gannon, 67-61, in the 2003 opening round before falling to Lake Superior by one (84-83) in the semis.

ON THE BENCH
Wayne State head coach Gloria Bradley has a 76-85 mark in her sixth season at WSU. Bradley is 190-154 in 12 seasons overall. Sue Ramsey owns a 169-135 record in her 11th season at Ashland.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Eagles have won 13 of their last 15 games. The conference's top-shooting team (47.8 percent) is led by junior Amber Rall who leads the GLIAC at 18.3 points per game. Junior Catherine Portyrata ranks second in field goal shooting (61.8), while sophomore guard Lisa Graue is second in the league in rebounds (8.2) and blocked shots (1.39), as well as third in steals at 2.54.

THE SERIES
Ashland leads, 19-11, in the all-time series, and has won the last five games against WSU.

IN THE POLLS
Wayne State was selected to place sixth in the South Division of the GLIAC coaches' preseason poll. Ashland was picked first with 24 points and four first-place votes in the South poll.

LAST GAME NOTES
WSU secured the final spot in the GLIAC Tournament with a 70-44 win over visiting Hillsdale College on Senior Day. Seniors Casey Banks and Kristen Rogers were honored prior to the game.

Both teams started the game 1-for-6 from the floor, but Hillsdale took a 10-4 lead in the first six minutes. Things went downhill for the Chargers from there as WSU held them scoreless for 6:11.

Down by eight, junior Bethany Mesko scored six of WSU's next 10 points to give the Warriors their first lead of the day at the 7:09 mark. Kristen Rogers then knocked down a three with 5:49 on the clock and a fast-break layup by freshman Chastidy Miller from Kristen Rogers was good to complete a 13-0 Wayne State run that put the Warriors ahead by seven.

Mesko then drove the baseline, got the layup to fall and converted the three-point play with just over two minutes left in the first half. Guard Brittany White then found Mesko wide open for her fifth basket of the half. Another three by Kristen Rogers with 10 seconds left gave WSU a 29-17 halftime lead.

The Warriors continued to pour it on in the second half as a three-pointer by Nicole Rogers put WSU up 42-27 at the 14:40 mark. Following a Charger turnover, Kristen Rogers threw a laser pass to Nicole Rogers under the hoop for an easy basket.

Wayne State's lead increased to 25 points as Hillsdale didn't score for over five minutes. The Warriors finished the last 6:30 of the game on a 12-6 run.

Both Mesko and Nicole Rogers were a rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine boards. Kristen Rogers finished with 12 points and tied a career-high with nine assists.

WSU made all 11 of its free throws in the game, led by Miller's 6-for-6 performance.

The Chargers suffered their worst loss of the year thanks to a poor shooting performance, making just 22.4 percent (13-of-58). Wayne State also outscored HC, 20-2, in the paint and out-rebounded the Chargers, 49-31.