Boxscore

Canton, Ohio -- The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (4-3 overall, 4-1 GLIAC) won its third consecutive league road contest with an 83-58 triumph at Malone University (5-4 overall, 2-4 GLIAC) Wednesday evening.

The Warriors scored the first five points of the game on a bucket by senior forward Phaebre Colbert (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) and a triple by senior guard Paige Sickmiller (Romeo, Mich.).

Two consecutive baskets by Malone cut the WSU lead to one (5-4) but the Warriors answered with baskets by senior forward Talisha Bridges (Kalamazoo, Mich./Loy Norrix) and junior guard Lena Thomas (Bloomfield Twp., Mich./Bloomfield Hills Andover).

After MU again cut the deficit to one (9-8), Wayne State responded with a 13-2 run over the next 6:30.

Later in the first half, Malone pulled within six (27-21), but the Warriors ended the opening 20 minutes on a 7-2 spurt to grab a 34-23 lead at the break.

A balanced scoring attack by Wayne State never let the game be tied.

Sickmiller tallied a game-high 20 points, while Talisha Bridges added 18 points, a game-best seven rebounds along with a team-high three assists as eight different Warriors had helpers (assists) in the contest.

Selana Reale scored a team-high 17 points for the Pioneers.

Unselfish basketball for Wayne State led to a season-high 54 percent (34-of-63) from the floor.  WSU also held a sizeable rebounding edge (40-22) which including a 21-4 advantage in second-chance points.  The Warriors also led in points in the paint, 46-16.

Wayne State will host the Waste Management/Wayne State Holiday Classic on Dec. 28-29 with Northwood University, Urbana University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis participation.

The Warriors will play the 3 p.m. game each day, while the Timberwolves will play the first game.

Tournament schedule:

Dec. 28
1 p.m. - Northwood vs. Urbana
3 p.m. - WSU vs. UMSL

Dec. 29
1 p.m. - Northwood vs. UMSL
3 p.m. - WSU vs. Urbana