Audio Of Post-Game Press Conference

Detroit – The Wayne State women's basketball team shot 48.3 percent from the field and scored 30 points off of 24 forced turnovers Thursday night as the Warriors rolled to a 69-63 win over Ferris State at the Matthaei. The victory is WSU's second in three games.

The Warriors (4-12, 2-9 GLIAC), who finished the game with just six available players, shot 60 percent (15-for-25) from the field in the second half. For the game, WSU had an advantage in fast break scoring (13-6), assists (14-8) and steals (11-9). Wayne State's 28 made field goals are the second most this season behind the 29 baskets made in a win against Madonna earlier this year.

Sophomore guard Felicia Thomas (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central) and senior guard Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson) tied for a game-high 13 points while freshman guard Amelia Davis (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) had one of her best games this season, finishing with career-bests of nine points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes. Thomas and Bowers also registered game-highs of five assists and five steals respectively.

Sophomore guard Kiara Smith (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, scoring nine points.

After Ferris State jumped out to a 13-6 lead with 12:38 to play in the first half, the Warriors went on a 9-0 run to tie the score at 15-15 with 7:48 remaining in the stanza. Four different players scored baskets during the WSU spurt including a three-pointer by junior guard Chelsea Kouri (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston).

The remainder of the period would be a back-and-forth battle with FSU holding a four-point (32-28) lead with 38 seconds left in the half. However, Bowers was able to knock down her second triple of the game to pull WSU within one point (32-31) at the break.

Slow starts out of the locker room have plagued the Warriors this season, but that wouldn't be the case Thursday as Wayne State came out making its shots and just like that WSU was up 49-40. The Warriors were 8-of-12 from the floor during the half-opening 18-8 run. This stretch featured baskets from seven different WSU players, including a three-pointer from Bowers that broke the Wayne State record for three-pointers made in a career. WSU would not trail for the remainder of the contest.

Wayne State had an answer anytime Ferris State threatened to make a comeback. When the lead was cut to five points (54-49), Thomas took matters into her own hands and scored five straight points, including a three as the shot clock was winding down, to return WSU's lead to 10 points.

Minutes later when Ferris State cut the margin back to six points (62-56), it was freshman forward Deanna Crumpton (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) who stepped up to knock down a pair of baskets. Finally, when the Bulldogs were forced to foul to get the ball back in the last moments of the half Kouri and Smith made clutch foul shots to ensure the 69-61 triumph.

Leading the Bulldogs with 10 points and nine rebounds was Kelsey DeNoyelles.

Wayne State will conclude it four-game homestand on Saturday against Grand Valley at 1:00 p.m.