March 6, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

2007-08 RECORDS:
Wayne State 15-11, 9-8 GLIAC
Michigan Tech 21-7, 13-5 GLIAC
Ashland 18-10, 10-7 GLIAC
Ferris State 17-11, 11-7 GLIAC

ONLINE VIDEO: B2 Networks

LIVE STATS: athletics.mtu.edu

SERIES:
Michigan Tech leads 28-15
Ashland leads 22-13
Ferris State leads 30-24

LAST MEETINGS:
MT won 67-52 at home on 1-17-08
AU won 77-66 at home on 2-21-08
FS won 69-61 at home on 1-9-08

GAME 27 STORYLINES

After recording its first road playoff win since 1981, the Wayne State women's basketball team travels to Houghton this weekend for the GLIAC women's basketball championship.

WSU is making its first GLIAC semifinal tournament appearance since 2003 when the Warriors fell, 84-83, at Lake Superior.

Wayne State advanced by ending a couple of streaks with Saturday's 67-64 triumph at top-seeded Hillsdale.

WSU's last win at HC was on Jan. 30, 1995 as the Warriors had suffered 14 consecutive setbacks at Philips Arena. Meanwhile, the Chargers had a 16-game home court winning streak dating back to December 2006.

Wayne State scored the first seven points of the game and never trailed until 4:43 was left in the game following a basket by Katie Cezat, who led all scorers with 34 points. WSU's scoring barrage to open the game included a bucket by Joy Nash, a three-pointer by Jasmine McCall and two free throws by Monique George.

WSU's lead remained between three and seven until a HC lay-up cut the Warrior lead to 13-12, but Brooke Bowers scored five consecutive points on a triple and a jumper and Chastidy Miller added another bucket for a 20-12 advantage.

Wayne State led between seven and 10 points until a 9-2 Hillsdale run cut the Warrior lead to three at 26-23.

WSU led 32-28 at halftime on the strength of solid defense. The Warriors shots 45 percent (13-29) in the opening 20 minutes to 38 percent (11-29) for the Chargers. Wayne State also had a 22-14 edge in rebounding.

The Warriors opened the second half on an 8-2 run as Miller hit two triples sandwiched around a McCall bucket. WSU led 42-31 following a jumper by Nash at the 16:50 mark but Hillsdale scored the next seven points before Miller split a pair from the foul line. On WSU's ensuing possession, Lindsey West made two foul shots for a seven point lead which would be the visitors largest the rest of the contest.

Another Miller triple, her third of the second half, at the 8:48 mark made it 50-44 WSU. Hillsdale scored four straight points until a lay-up by McCall at the 7:17 mark.

With 6:11 on the clock, George made the front end of one-and-the-bonus for a 55-52 Wayne State lead. Two free throws and the aforementioned Cezat lay-up (4:43) put the Chargers ahead 56-55.

George made two foul shots then grabbed a defensive rebound leading to a McCall lay-up and a 59-56 Warrior advantage. HC's Janay Miller made two free throws and Cezat hit a jumper in a span of 35 seconds putting the Chargers ahead 60-59 with 2:22 remaining.

George scored on an easy lay-up from McCall after Jasmine grabbed the rebound of her own missed shot with 1:52 left. Back-to-back Hillsdale turnovers preceded a McCall triple from Nash putting the Warriors ahead 64-60 with 33 seconds remaining.

An offensive put back by HC's Julie Slot made it a two-point game (64-62) with 27 seconds left. McCall was fouled after catching the inbounds pass with 24.4 second remaining. She made the front end of the double bonus for a three-point lead. Hillsdale's Brooke Knight scored an uncontested lay-up with 10.8 left and McCall was again fouled on the inbouds. She made the front end for a two-point lead (66-64). Miller missed a shot from the paint and George grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 2.5 seconds remaining.

George sealed the win by making the first of two with McCall grabbing the offensive rebound as the clock expired.

George and McCall each had 16 points for the Warriors with McCall grabbing a team-best 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Miller added 14 points.

ON THE BENCH

Wayne State's Gloria Bradley is in her eighth season at WSU and 15th season overall with records of 101-116 and 215-181, respectively.

John Barnes has compiled a 96-44 mark is in his fifth season at Michigan Tech.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Michigan Tech leads 30-13 in the all-time series. The Warriors are 3-3 in the last six meetings.

WSU has lost two straight at SDC since a 63-61 triumph on Jan. 8, 2004. Prior to the current 3-3 stretch, MTU won 21 of 22 meetings between Feb. 6, 1988, and Jan. 12, 2002.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH

The Huskies went 12-3 at home this year.

Katie Wysocky leads MTU in scoring (16.1), rebounding (9.8) and steals (46). Catherine Rottier leads the squad in assists (163).

Danae Danen has a team-best 43 blocked shots, while Katie Zimmerman has made a team-high 70 three-pointers made.

THIS AND THAT

All three games this weekend will be available via video webcasting for $8 per game through B2 Networks.

Jasmine McCall is sixth nationally in steals per game (3.8) and 50th in assist/ turnover ratio (1.61). Joy Nash is 61st in assist/turnover ratio (1.56).