Post Game Quotes

Detroit – Senior guard Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson) scored a season-high 24 points and made school history, but it wasn't enough as Northern Michigan managed to defeat Wayne State 67-57 Thursday night at the Matthaei. The game was highlighted by nine lead changes and two ties.

Northern Michigan improved its record to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the GLIAC while the loss dropped Wayne State's record to 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the GLIAC.

Bowers was 6-for-6 from three-point range, breaking the school record for three-point accuracy that was previously held by Jessica King who went 6-for-7 (.857) on March 7, 2003. Bowers' six triples also pushed her career total of three-pointers made to 162 which ties her with King for the second most in WSU history.

Sophomore guard Felicia Thomas (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central) joined Bowers in double figures with 13 points while also dishing out a game-high five assists. Bowers added a game-best three steals.

Junior guard Chelsea Kouri (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) and freshman guard Amelia Davis (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) both grabbed four rebounds to lead the Warriors. Freshman guard Tyler Hardy (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) played in her first game for Wayne State on Thursday and scored three points with one rebound and one steal. Freshman forward Chelsea Davis (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem) also returned to the rotation after a two-game absence.

The Warriors shot 38.7 percent (24-for-62) from the field and a season-high 46.7 percent (7-for-15) from three-point range. Northern Michigan controlled the paint, holding the edge in rebounding 41-30 and blocks 4-1. However, WSU did have a 26-20 advantage in points in the paint and a 22-16 edge in points off of turnovers.

After an early jumper by freshman forward Deanna Crumpton (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood), Bowers scored WSU's next eight points as the squads battled to a 10-10 tie with 16:36 remaining in the first half.

Trailing 13-10, Wayne State proceeded to go on a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the game of 17-13. The run was sparked by four points from Thomas and Bowers' third three-pointer of game. However, NMU responded with a 13-0 run that gave the Wildcats a nine-point lead (26-17) with 7:44 remaining in the period.

The Warriors ended the stanza on a 15-9 spurt to close the gap to just three points (35-32) heading into the locker room.

Neither team would score for the first 2:25 of the second half, but NMU quickly found its way and extended its lead to 49-36 with 12:13 left in the game. WSU would once again find a way to keep the game within reach and cut the lead down to just four points (54-50) with 5:54 to play.

But the Northern Michigan lead would prove to be too much to overcome as the Warriors were unable to complete the comeback and NMU was able to push its lead to the 67-57 final by converting six foul shots in the final 1:39.

Elicia Derusha paced Northern Michigan with 17 points.

The Warriors will be back in action at home again on Saturday (Dec. 19) against #1 Michigan Tech. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.