Post-Game Press Conference

Detroit – The Wayne State women's basketball team knocked off the GLIAC South Division leading Findlay Oilers 56-48 Saturday afternoon at the Matthaei thanks to a standout defensive performance. The 48 points allowed were the second fewest points scored on WSU this year and a season-low for the Oilers who entered the day fourth in the GLIAC in scoring. The Warriors never trailed on Saturday.

The victory improves the Warriors' record to 7-16 overall and 5-13 in the GLIAC. WSU is currently three games behind Northwood for the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament with four games to play. The loss drops Findlay's record to 17-6 overall and 12-6 in the GLIAC.

Wayne State played a tough zone defense and forced 25 turnovers which WSU turned into 16 points. Findlay shot just 36.7 percent (18-for-49) from the field to WSU's 38.6 percent (22-for-57). Wayne State also had 10 steals on Saturday.

Senior guard Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson) had game-highs of 15 points and three steals to lead Wayne State. Bowers was 4-for-6 from the field and 6-for-6 from the foul line. Also scoring in double digits for the Warriors was freshman forward Chelsea Davis (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem), who finished the game with 10 points and six rebounds.

Freshman guard Tyler Hardy (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) consistently got to the basket and scored nine points with a team-best three assists.

Competing in their pink uniforms as part of the WBCA's Pink Zone, a breast cancer awareness event spanning a week that has 1,550 teams and organizations participating, the Warriors scored seven consecutive points to begin the game thanks to field goals by Chelsea Davis and freshman guard Amelia Davis (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) sandwiching a three-pointer by junior guard Chelsea Kouri (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston).

After Findlay cut the margin to just one point (9-8), WSU took off on an 11-3 run that the Oilers would never recover from. The run was sparked by Hardy who scored six of the points. The Warriors found themselves up 10 points (21-11) with 4:41 to play in the period.

WSU was able to take its 10-point lead into intermission when freshman forward Latosha Beasley (Flint, Mich./Northern) snagged an offensive rebound with 22 seconds to play and converted the board into two points to put Wayne State on top 27-17 heading into halftime. Findlay's 17 points was the lowest output by any WSU opponent in a half this year.

At halftime coach Gloria Bradley and Wayne State Director of Athletics Rob Fournier presented Jackie Davis, a breast cancer survivor and mother of Warrior guard Amelia Davis, with a pink wave t-shirt that was autographed by the women's basketball team.

WSU was able to keep a nine-point lead (33-24) through the first media timeout at the 14:09 mark in the second half before opening up a commanding 15-point lead off of a 13-7 run that saw Bowers score five of the points.

The Warriors put any thoughts of a UF comeback to rest with clutch scoring down the stretch. Beasley and Chelsea Davis answered Findlay three-pointers with baskets of their own and Bowers converted six free throws in the final 44 seconds of play to clinch the 56-48 victory.

Laura Bardall scored 14 points to lead Findlay while Megan Sellers added a game-high seven rebounds.

Wayne State will begin the second leg of its four-game homestand against Ashland Thursday at 5:30 p.m.