Rolla, Mo. - The Wayne State women's basketball team got off to a rough start at the Lady Miner Classic on Friday as Arkansas Tech downed the Warriors 84-54. WSU falls to 0-2 this season with the defeat while Arkansas Tech improves to 2-0 with the win.

Sophomore guard Felicia Thomas (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central) led Wayne State with 14 points. Junior guard Chelsea Kouri (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) had a career-high five steals to go with her nine points while freshman forward Deanna Crumpton (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) had team-highs of six rebounds and two blocks.

Senior guard Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson), freshman forward Chelsea Davis (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem) and sophomore guard Kiara Smith (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance (UT-Martin) all scored seven points while Bowers and Smith both handed out three assists.

As a team, Wayne State had 12 steals and scored 32 points off of 30 Arkansas Tech turnovers. Friday's game was the first time since WSU played Hillsdale on Feb. 7, 2007 that Wayne State forced at least 30 turnovers. The Warriors were also 12-of-16 from the foul line.

However, WSU was held to just 30.6 percent shooting while also turning the ball over 29 times.

Thomas paced the Warriors in the first half with 12 points including a three-pointer that would give WSU its first lead of the night at 4-2 early in the first half. An 11-6 spurt by the Golden Suns led to their largest lead of the half at 13-10, but a foul shot by Phaebre Colbert (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) and back-to-back-to-back three-pointers by Thomas, Smith and Bowers quickly got Wayne State back in front at 20-13 with 9:35 remaining until intermission.

After a 10-2 run put Arkansas Tech up 23-22 with 5:57 to go, both squads traded baskets with Arkansas Tech taking a 36-34 lead into the break after a basket by Jessica Weatherford wit 23 seconds left in the half.

Offense was at a premium to begin the second half as both teams combined to score just 12 points through five minutes of play. However, the Golden Suns would heat up and pull away from Wayne State by going on a 19-4 run to extend its lead to 62-43. A mini comeback of six consecutive points by Wayne State followed, but the damage was done as Arkansas Tech went on to score 20 of the games final 25 points and win 84-54.

Arkansas Tech was led by forward Natalie Santos who had a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The Warriors will conclude their time in Missouri on Saturday when they play Missouri S&T. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.