DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (6-14 overall, 6-8 GLIAC) battled eighth-ranked Michigan Tech (18-2 overall, 13-1 GLIAC), but eventually fell 68-54 Saturday afternoon at the Matthaei.

WSU twice tied the game in the early going at 2-2 on a jumper by sophomore Phaebre Colbert (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Northern) and at 5-5 a triple by classmate Amelia Davis (Temperance, Mich. / Bedford) at the 15:54 mark. MTU then went on a 13-4 run over the next six minutes for a nine-point advantage (18-9).

The Warriors pulled within five (18-13) after freshman Lauryn Robinson (Washington Court House, Ohio / Washington) sank a pair of free throws. The Huskies answered with a 15-6 run for a 14 point lead at 33-19 with 73 seconds left before intermission.

WSU was held to 32 percent (8-of-25) in the opening half, while Michigan Tech connected on 61 percent (14-of-23) from the floor for a 35-22 halftime advantage.

The Warriors cut the deficit to eight early in the second half as sophomore Paige Sickmiller (Romeo, Mich.) drained a three and sophomore Deanna Crumpton (Kentwood, Mich. / East Kentwood) scored from the paint.

The Huskies responded with an 8-0 run pushing their lead to 16.

Wayne State was able to make it a seven-point game (43-36) on a fast-break lay-up by Colbert at the 12:10 mark, but a 9-0 run by MTU sealed the outcome.

Michigan Tech held a 32-16 advantage in points in the paint and finished at 54 percent (27-of-50) from the field.

The Warriors, after grabbing 11 offensive rebounds, held an 11-5 margin in second-chance points.

WSU had a season-low eight turnovers, but made just 5-of-20 from beyond the arc (25 percent).

Colbert led three Warriors in double figures with 15 points. Sickmiller and Davis each chipped in with 11 points, with Sickmiller grabbing a team-best eight rebounds.

Lisa Staehlin tallied a game-high 17 points, while Huskie teammate Lindsey Lindstrom recorded a game-high 12 rebounds.

WSU will play its final non-league game of the season at home on Monday vs. Madonna. Tip-off for the Pink Wave contest to support Breast Cancer is slated for 5:30 p.m.