WSU Quotes
The Wayne State women's basketball team came up just short Sunday as the Warriors fell 69-68 to Southern Indiana at the Matthaei. Junior guard Chelsea Kouri (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) had a game-high 15 points in the loss. WSU falls to 0-1 on the season while USI improves to 2-2 with the victory.
Both teams had good shooting days from the floor with Southern Indiana having the narrow lead 51.2 (22-for-43) percent to WSU's 50 percent (26-for-52). Wayne State held an edge in rebounding (30-28), steals (13-12) and second chance points (11-7) while also forcing 24 Screaming Eagle turnovers thanks in part to 13 steals.
Sophomore guard Felicia Thomas (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central) and freshman forward Deanna Crumpton (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) joined Kouri in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Thomas also dished out a career-high six assists. Freshman forward Chelsea Davis (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem) battled down low and came away with a game-high eight rebounds. Senior guard Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson) added four steals.
The Warriors jumped out to a quick start and were up 10-2 with 12:33 left in the first half. Crumpton led the early charge with six points. The lead would be short lived as the first of the games seven lead changes took place when Southern Indiana hit a three-pointer to go up 18-16 during its 13-1 run that concluded with USI leading 21-16 with 8:23 to play in the half.
WSU responded with a balance scoring attack that saw five players hit baskets on the Warriors' way to a 28-26 lead late in the half. Southern Indiana countered back to take make the score 35-30 at intermission, but not before sophomore guard Kiara Smith (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance (UT-Martin) made a steal at half court and drove in for a layup with 10 seconds left in the half.
The Screaming Eagles would extend their lead to 10 points (40-30) before WSU showed signs of life and went on a 9-4 tear, that was highlighted by a three-pointer from Thomas, to pull within five points (44-39). Three-pointers by Kouri and Thomas kept the contest close through the next five minutes, but with 8:49 left in the game Wayne State was down 10 points again (58-48) and in serious need of a momentum swing. They would get exactly that.
As you would expect from a senior, Bowers led the comeback bid by scoring five of the Warriors' next 13 points as WSU marched back with a 15-2 spurt to move ahead 63-60 after a pair of foul shots by Smith with 4:32 left to play in regulation.
In a game where no lead was safe, Southern Indiana hit one of its six three-pointers to tie things up 63-63 with 4:21 to go. After almost two minutes of scoreless action, USI went ahead 65-63 after a baseline drive to the hoop by Lauren Meneghetti. Not to be out done, Davis sank a basket of her own in the paint to tie the game for the eighth time of the night at 65-65.
After two successful foul shots by Southern Indiana, Bowers drove to the paint, drew a foul and converted her field goal. With a chance to retake the lead with 37.3 seconds left, the career 77.4 percent foul shooter calmly sank the free throw putting the Warriors up 68-67.
However, USI's Amie Newhart was fouled with 21.6 seconds to play and knocked down her two shots giving the visitors a 69-68 advantage. The game ended with Wayne State failing to convert on its final two possessions of the day.
Ellen Young led Southern Indiana with 13 points.
Wayne State will travel to Rolla, Mo. this weekend to take part in the Lady Miner Classic. On Friday, Wayne State will play Arkansas Tech at 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday they will meet up with tournament host Missouri S&T at 4:00 p.m.
