Dec. 29, 2005

Wayne State (3-6)
vs. Ky. Wesleyan (5-5) & Marygrove (5-9)
Dec. 30 & Jan. 3 - 5:30 pm
Matthaei - Detroit, Mich.

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< GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State Warriors, who have played just two games at the Matthaei this season, return to Detroit for five straight home appearances starting December 30 against Kentucky Wesleyan College of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. WSU will then start the 2006 portion of its schedule by playing local Detroit college Marygrove on January 3 for the first time in school history.

Following Tuesday's contest, WSU's third consecutive non-conference battle, the Warriors will head back into Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action with a home game against Northwood on January 7.

< ON THE BENCH
Wayne State head coach Gloria Bradley has a 69-76 mark in her sixth season at WSU. Bradley is 183-145 in 12 seasons overall.

KWC's Ron Williams is 10-27 in his second season with the Panthers. His squad has already matched last season's win total of five. Marygrove is coached by second-year head man Antonio Hitchcock who is 11-29 with the Mustangs.

< THE SERIES
Kentucky Wesleyan won the lone meeting with WSU, a 64-54 decision on December 13, 1997. Though only seven miles apart, Marygrove and WSU have never met in women's basketball.

< IN THE POLLS
Wayne State was selected to place sixth in South Division in the GLIAC coaches' preseason poll. KWC tied for fifth place with UW-Parkside in the GLVC East Division with 14 points.

< SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
KWC enters Friday's game with a .500 record. The Panthers have split their last four games, including a 74-61 loss to GLIAC opponent Saginaw Valley. Sophomore guard Laura McClintic leads the Panthers in points (14.7), rebounds (7.3), assists (24) and steals (19). She has also hit 41.9 percent (26-of-62) of her three-point attempts.

Marygrove is participating in the Webber International University Tournament December 29-31.

< LAST GAME NOTES
The Wayne State women's basketball team lost its third straight game with an 82-66 loss at the University of Southern Indiana in a match-up of Great Lakes Region teams on Sunday, Dec. 18. The teams combined to shoot 80 total free throws in the two hour and 12 minute contest.

WSU senior Shatona Clark scored the first two baskets of the game, but the Eagles answered with 11 straight points as the Warriors got in early foul trouble. Wayne State came back with field goals by Cherita Smith and Joy Nash to make it 11-8.

USI went on a 19-5 run and held a 30-13 lead with 7:27 to play in the first half. Wayne State senior Kristen Rogers came off the bench three minutes later to get an assist on a Clark basket, then scored on a jumper of her own to make it 36-20.

Southern Indiana scored 11 points in a row and held the Warriors without any points until Rogers made a pair of foul shots with 12.6 seconds left. USI held a 48-22 lead at halftime as the teams combined for 32 fouls.

WSU outscored the Screaming Eagles, 10-5, during the first 4:10 of the second half. Then Clark broke the press and found Casey Banks for an open layup under the basket. On the next inbound play for WSU, Nicole Rogers threw an outlet pass that Clark caught at half-court and finished with a lay-up. After a defensive rebound, Clark hit WSU's first three-pointer of the game for a 55-39 score with 13:50 left.

Sophomore Brittany White stepped inside the three-point line and knocked down a jumper. Following a Kristen Rogers steal, White grabbed an offensive rebound and scored a second-chance basket as the Warriors trailed 69-56 with 3:44 remaining.

But the Eagles shot 79.2 percent (38-of-48) from the line to pull away with the win.

Clark led the Warriors with 14 points and 13 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Her 13 boards mark a career-high for the senior guard.