Nov. 21, 2011

Canton, Ohio - The Wayne State University women's basketball team (3-0) erased a seven-point second half deficit to defeat host Malone University (1-4), 66-60, on Monday night.

Junior forward Deanna Crumpton (East Kentwood, Mich. / East Kentwood) scored a team-high 17 points and collected six rebounds, while junior center Juanita Cochran (Saginaw, Mich. / Arthur Hill (Stony Brook)) added 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Both individuals tallied 10 first half points.

The Warriors outscored the Pioneers 12-6 in the final 5:03 of the ballgame to come away on top. A free throw from junior forward Phaebre Colbert (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Northern) and a Lena Thomas (Bloomfield Twp., Mich. / Bloomfield Hills Andover) jumper gave WSU a 57-54 lead with 2:54 left. After trading baskets, junior guard Paige Sickmiller's (Romeo, Mich. / Romeo) jumper pushed the visitors margin to five (61-56) with 57 seconds to go. Wayne State hit 5-of-6 from the free-throw line the rest of the way to seal the win.

The Warriors saw their 32-27 halftime lead turn into a 45-38 Pioneer lead as the hosts opened the first 7:24 of the final 20 minutes on an 18-6 run. However, after a WSU timeout, the visitors tallied seven straight points tying the game on a Sickmiller basket with 9:39 to go.

Wayne State regained the lead (52-51) on a pair of free throws from point guard Stefani Munro (Harrison Twp., Mich. / Mount Clemens) at the 6:23 mark. On the ensuing possession, Caitlin Sharp buried a three-pointer putting Malone up by two, but Crumpton answered with jumper back down the floor.

In the opening half, Wayne State raced out to a 12-4 lead following a steal and a basket from Munro, but Malone responded with a 6-0 run. Colbert's lay-up at the 11:48 mark catapulted a 20-11 WSU run over the next 8:33. Once again, the Pioneers responded using a 6-0 run narrowing WSU's lead heading into the break.

Thomas had eights points, five rebounds and two assists, while Munro finished with six points and four assists. Colbert chipped in five points and seven rebounds and Sickmiller added four points and six rebounds. 

Wayne State welcomes Kentucky Wesleyan to the Matthaei on Saturday at 1 p.m.