Boxscore

Assistant Coach Karen Lafata's interview at halftime of the men's game at Walsh.

North Canton, Ohio -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (18-7 overall, 16-5 GLIAC) suffered a one-point loss, 61-60, at Walsh University (8-17 overall, 5-16 GLIAC) Wednesday evening.

The Warriors have lost back-to-back games for the first time since opening the season with setbacks to nationally ranked Lewis and Edinboro.

After senior forward Deanna Crumpton (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) scored the first points of the game on a lay-up, the WSU offense managed just seven more points until a jumper by senior Phaebre Colbert (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) at the 8:31 mark which cut the deficit to 10 at 21-11.

Wayne State outscored the Cavaliers 17-15 the rest of the first half to pull within eight (36-28) at intermission.  Neither squad shot well in the opening 20 minutes with WSU making 34 percent (11-of-32) compared to 39 percent (12-of-31) for Walsh.  Tracy Payne of Walsh led all scorers at the break with 11 points.

An 11-4 run by the hosts to start the second half increased the Cavaliers lead to 15 at 47-32.  After a timeout by Wayne State, the Warrior defensive pressure held Walsh without a point for over 6:30 as WSU tallied 11 consecutive points to pull within four at 47-43.

After a Maggie Berry jumper, WSU's defense stepped up again holding Walsh without a point for nearly three points.  An offensive rebound and put-back by senior forward Talisha Bridges (Kalamazoo, Mich./Loy Norrix) at the 5:14 mark knotted the game at 51.

The game was tied again at 54, before a pair of Kayla Bridges (Canton, Mich.) foul shots put WSU ahead 56-54 with 2:45 remaining.

Payne connected on a three-pointer at the 2:22 mark giving Walsh the lead for good.  Wayne State missed a pair of jumpers on the ensuing possession, before Lydia Corle hit a jumper making it a three-point game at 59-56.  Talisha Bridges scored with 1:29 left cutting the deficit to one (59-58), but Payne made two free throws in a one-and-one situation with 14.4 left to again make it a three-point contest.

Senior center Juanita Cochran (Saginaw, Mich./Arthur Hill) had an offensive rebound and basket with 3.9 seconds remaining, and Payne missed the front end of a one-and-one and WSU was not able to get a shot away in the final 2.5 seconds.

Wayne State will conclude the regular season this Saturday with a 3 p.m. game at Lake Superior.