Boxscore

DETROIT - The Wayne State University women's basketball team (3-3, 3-1 GLIAC) won its first home game of the season on Sunday, 51-48, over Lake Erie (2-4, 0-3 GLIAC). The Warriors led from the opening tip to the final buzzer but there was plenty of drama to be had. A pair of double digit second-half leads were relinquished as the clock wound down before the Green and Gold came up with key stops to preserve the victory.

Wayne State was led by Talisha Bridges (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Loy Norrix) who finished with 19 points and eight rebounds was tough all day long and her 11-14 free-throw shooting kept Lake Erie at bay.  The final WSU field goal, a jumper by senior Phaebre Colbert (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Northern), came with 6:05 to play and gave the hosts a 10-point lead (48-38). The Storm made their run over those final six minutes and had the lead cut to two around the two-minute mark. Lake Erie had three consecutive shots from the floor to knot the contest at 48 but none would fall.

Talisha Bridges split a pair from the foul line in a double bonus situation with 44.1 seconds remaining to increase the Warrior lead to three (49-46).  The WSU defense forced a bad pass with 27.9 seconds remaining and the Wayne State offense moved the ball around until a Storm foul with 16.8 seconds left.  This time Talisha Bridges sank both from the charity stripe expanding the lead to five (51-46).

Lake Erie's Jackie Murray hit a running jumper from just inside the foul line with 2.5 seconds on the clock.  WSU freshman guard Kristen Long (Corunna, Mich. / Durand) was fouled before the Warriors could inbound the ball.  After she missed both LEC's Shelby Carpenter heaved a desperation triple from just inside half court that bounced off the backboard.

Colbert had a double-double for Wayne State with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Kayla Bridges (Canton, Mich. / Canton) chipped in with eight points and 11 boards. After a sloppy first half both teams found success getting inside and making buckets or converting from the free-throw line.

Ashar Harris led the Storm with 19 points and a game-best 12 rebounds.

Both teams shot under 35 percent from the floor in the contest as WSU connected on 14-of-47 (29.8 percent) compared to 34.8 percent (16-of-36) for Lake Erie.  The teams combined for 1-of-17 from beyond the arc.

The main difference was at the foul line where the Warriors shot 70 percent (23-of-33) with the Storm making 56 percent (15-of-27).

Wayne State totaled 20 offensive rebounds to 19 defensive rebounds for Lake Erie leading to a 19-7 edge in second-chance points.

Up next the Warriors head to Malone on December 19th to continue GLIAC play before hosting their Holiday Tournament on December 28 and 29.