DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (2-3 overall) won its second consecutive contest with a 67-43 triumph over visiting Michigan-Dearborn (3-8 overall) Sunday afternoon at the Matthaei.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Warriors scored the first five points on a pair of free throws by sophomore
Ja'Nae Williams (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) and a triple by junior
Sara Ruhstorfer (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Flint Powers Catholic), then led 9-2 after freshman
Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep) sank two foul shots. The Wolverines tallied the next nine points to grab an 11-9 advantage with just over two minutes left in the first quarter. UMD's Jeorgia Jones made a bucket in the final minute to knot the game at 13-13. She led all scorers with six points in the opening stanza which saw three ties and two lead changes. Michigan-Dearborn garnered 10 points off 10 Wayne State miscues.
UMD scored 12 of the first 18 points of the second period for its largest lead of the game (6, 25-19). Jones had four points, while Megan Swick and Natalie Spala each hit triples in the first 4:10 of the second stanza. WSU responded with an 11-3 run over the next three minutes keyed by four points from Chambers and another three-pointer by Ruhstorfer. After UMD's Arryn Dochenetz split a pair from the charity stripe, the Warriors closed out the first half on a 5-0 run which included a three-pointer by freshman
Alex Matus (Millbury, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic) in the final minute.
Wayne State shot 37 percent (10-of-27) in the opening 20 minutes compared to 26 percent (10-of-39) for the Wolverines to lead 35-29 at intermission.
WSU led the entire second half en route to the non-conference victory. Michigan-Dearborn cut its deficit to two (37-35) two minutes into the third quarter on a triple by Kendall Rose, but the Warriors went on a 15-4 spurt to end the frame leading 52-39. Six different Wayne State players scored in the period with Williams and Chambers each contributing four points.
Sophomore
India Hawkins (Detroit, Mich. / Edison Public School Academy) scored the first five points of the fourth quarter on a triple and a fast-break lay-up, both assisted by Matus. Following sophomore
Paige Villemure's (Flat Rock, Mich.) second triple of the game, Hawkins connected on a jumper and senior
Ajai Meeks (Detroit, Mich. / Pershing) scored on a jumper in the paint to complete the 21 consecutive points by WSU as the Wolverines went scoreless for 10:35.
TEAM STATS
The Warriors made 35 percent (22-of-63) of its field goal attempts, while Michigan-Dearborn shot 23 percent (16-of-69) from the field. Wayne State made 7-of-17 three-point attempts (41 percent) compared to 15 percent (4-of-27) for UMD. WSU was 16-of-21 (76 percent) from the foul line, with the Wolverines making 54 percent (7-of-13) from the charity stripe. The Warriors had a 56-44 edge in rebounds
WSU LEADERS
Chambers tallied a team-high 12 points, while Williams added 10 points and seven rebounds. Meeks tied for game-high honors with 11 rebounds, while
Christina Green (Southfield, Mich. / Lathrup) added nine boards. Eight different Warriors had an assist.
UMD LEADERS
Jones scored a game-best 14 points, with Spala recording 11 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Wayne State begins GLIAC play this Thursday at home vs. Lake Erie with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
