WSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES

2012-13 RECORDS:
#40-Wayne State 17-5 overall, 15-3 GLIAC
Ferris State 13-9 overall, 12-7 GLIAC
Grand Valley 17-6 overall, 13-6 GLIAC
SERIES:
Ferris State leads WSU 34-27
Grand Valley leads WSU 39-24
LAST MEETING:
WSU won 81-68 at Ferris State on Jan. 24, 2013
WSU won 72-59 vs. Grand Valley on Jan. 26, 2013

GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State, who is in first place in the GLIAC North Division, enters its final home matchup Thursday against Ferris State having already clinched a playoff berth.
    
The Warriors currently have an eight-game winning streak which is their longest since 2002-03.  At 17 wins, WSU also has its most wins since the 2002-03 squad finished 17-12.
    
Two wins in its final four games also gives WSU its first home playoff game since 2002-03.  The Warriors celebrate Senior Night on Thursday before finishing their regular season with a three-game road trip.

IN THE RANKINGS
The Warriors earned votes in the USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll for the third consecutive week.  WSU earned eight votes in the poll.  Wayne State is ranked No. 23 in the most recent Massey Ratings, which were released on Monday.

LAST WEEK
The Warriors notched two home victories in three days with a 55-53 win over Michigan Tech on Thursday and an 87-70 triumph against Northern Michigan on Saturday.
    
Michigan Tech hung close with WSU in the second half, pulling to within one point four times, but never tied the game or took the lead.  Wayne State led by one point, 54-53, with 16 seconds left and Talisha Bridges at the free throw line.  She missed both shots, but Phaebre Colbert grabbed an offensive board and was fouled.  She converted 1-of-2 free throws to make it 55-53 with 14 seconds remaining.  As MTU's Sam Hoyt brought the ball up for a final chance, Bridges picked her pocket, sealing the victory for the Warriors.  
    
Juanita Cochran (18 points, 14 rebounds) and Colbert (11 points, 15 rebounds) each posted double-doubles in the victory over Michigan Tech.
    
WSU established a new season-high for points and led wire-to-wire against Northern Michigan.  Colbert scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for her third straight double-double.  Talisha Bridges (16 points) and Cochran (10 points, 11 rebounds) also scored in double figures for Wayne State.

SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors have won two of their past three games against the Bulldogs, including taking an 81-68 game on the road on Jan. 24.  WSU is 15-13 at home and 27-34 overall in the all-time series against FSU.
    
Wayne State snapped a six-game losing skid with a 72-59 victory over Grand Valley on Jan. 26.  The Warriors are 8-22 on the road and have a 24-39 mark against the Lakers in the all-time series.

SCOUTING FERRIS STATE
The Bulldogs are winners of three straight contests, including defeating Lake Superior at home, 72-60, in their last game on Saturday.
    
Sarah DeShone is second in the GLIAC in scoring, tallying 18.4 points per game.  She also leads FSU in assists (70) and three-pointers (36).  She is second in steals with 48.
    
Ashley Rando is second in scoring at 9.7 ppg, while Kylie Muntz is third at 9.5 ppg.  Rando leads Ferris State with 49 steals.  Kara Hess leads the Bulldogs in rebounding (5.2 rebounds per game), while Hannah Hoffman is second (5.1 rpg).

Ferris State is third in the GLIAC in free throw shooting (74.7 percent).

SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY
The Lakers have won four out of their last five games entering Thursday's matchup at Saginaw Valley State.  GVSU is 9-2 at home this season.
    
Briauna Taylor is first on the Lakers and seventh in the GLIAC in scoring at 15.7 points per game.  She also leads the team in rebounding (6.4 rebounds per game), assists (72) and steals (47).
    
Kat LaPrairie is second on GVSU in scoring (8.7 ppg).  Alex Stelfox is third in scoring (8.4 ppg), second in rebounding (5.0 rpg) and first in field goal percentage (50.9 percent).  Kellie Watson leads the Lakers in blocks with 27.
    
Grand Valley is second in the GLIAC in field goal percentage (42.8) and fifth in the conference in scoring (67.1 points per game).
    
ON THE BENCH
Carrie Lohr is in her second season as head coach of the WSU women's basketball program.  Lohr has a 29-19 record in her Warrior coaching career.
    
Ferris State's Colleen Lamoreaux-Tate is in her first season as the head coach of the Bulldogs.
    
Janell Burgess has compiled a 101-62 mark in her sixth year as Grand Valley State's head coach.