BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (6-6 overall, 1-5 GLIAC) suffered its second GLIAC road loss in as many days on Sunday falling 75-71 at Ferris State University (3-9 overall, 3-3 GLIAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED

WSU started strong and had the biggest lead of the game at 16-6 just past the mid-point of the opening quarter as five different Warriors scored led by five points from sophomore guard Shannon Wilson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills) and four points from senior guard Kristen Long (Durand, Mich.).

Wayne State led 23-15 after the first period having never trailed and only tied at 4-4.

A pair of free throws early in the second stanza by senior forward Ashley Wilson (Portage, Mich. / Northern), who finished the game 10-for-10 from the charity stripe, pushed the lead back to 10.  A 9-2 run by the Bulldogs cut the WSU advantage to three (27-24) at the 5:34 mark, but Wayne State ended the first half on a 12-9 scoring run to lead 39-33 at intermission.

The third quarter was tough for the Warriors at both ends of the court.  Ferris State made 63 percent (10-of-16) of its field goal attempts compared to 25 percent (4-of-16) for WSU which helped FSU outscore the visitors 23-15 and put the Bulldogs ahead 56-54.  Wayne State did not make a field goal in the final three minutes of the period.

An Ashley Wilson bucket knotted the game at 56, but FSU's Alexis Huntey scored a conventional three-point play on the ensuing possession to give the hosts a 59-56 lead with 8:40 remaining.  Six consecutive points by Ashley Wilson put the Warriors ahead 62-59.  An Ajai Meeks (Detroit, Mich. / Pershing) lay-up just past the mid-point of the fourth quarter tied the contest at 64.

An Ashley Wilson offensive rebound and put back ended four straight points by FSU.  A triple by Bulldog Alexis Bush gave Ferris a 71-66 lead with just over 90 seconds left.  Meeks scored from inside on the next possession and WSU forced a Bulldog miscue, but WSU missed three shots on its next trip down the court.

A Shannon Wilson steal led to an Ashley Wilson basket and a one-point (71-70) Warrior deficit with 50 seconds left.  Following another FSU turnover, Meeks split a pair from the foul line ending WSU's consecutive made free throws streak at 18.  FSU's Rachel McInerney scored with 20 seconds left to snap the 71-71 deadlock.  Ashley Wilson missed a lay-up and senior guard Brittany Streetman's (Warren, Mich. / Lincoln) three-point attempt in the final five seconds did not fall.

WSU LEADERS

Ashley Wilson led four Warriors in double figures with 22 points.  She also had a team-high eight rebounds.  Shannon Wilson contributed 11 points, seven assists and a game-best five steals.  Meeks totaled a career-high 10 points.

TEAM STATS RECAP

WSU shot 32 percent (23-of-71) from the floor, while Ferris State made 51 percent (26-of-51) of its shots.  The Warriors connected on 6-of-26 from beyond the arc, with FSU also making six triples in 21 attempts.  Wayne State was a superb 19-of-20 (95 percent) from the foul line, with the Bulldogs sinking 17-of-23 free throws (74 percent).  WSU was out-rebounded 38-36, but did force FSU into 25 turnovers.

LEADING THE OPPOSITION

Huntey and Joslyn Nicholson tied for game-high scoring honors with 24 points each.  Huntey finished with a double-double as she grabbed a game-best 12 rebounds.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will begin a stretch of six home games in a seven-game span with a 5:30 p.m. contest on Thursday at the Matthaei vs. Hillsdale.