DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (6-10 overall, 3-6 GLIAC) ended a three-game losing streak with a thrilling 55-53 triumph over visiting Northern Michigan University (10-6 overall, 5-4 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon at the Matthaei.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Warriors raced out to an early 9-4 advantage in the first five minutes paced by five points from sophomore Jessica Murphy (Oxford, Mich.) and a pair of buckets from senior Christina Green (Southfield, Mich. / Lathrup).  However, WSU managed just two field goals in the final five minutes of the period as the Wildcats ended the frame on a 12-4 run to take a 16-13 lead after 10 minutes.

After three ties in the first quarter, there were four ties in the second period with NMU having the largest lead of the stanza (three points - three times at 18-15, 20-17 and 25-22).  The Wayne State defense was superb the final 4:30 holding the Wildcats without a field goal and only two free throws with 0.3 seconds left before intermission.  Offensively, sophomore Ja'Nae Williams (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) drained a triple and junior Payton Birchmeier (Corunna, Mich.) had an offensive rebound and put-back in the final minute before halftime.

Wayne State held a 20-13 scoring edge in the third quarter to turn a 27-27 halftime draw into a 47-40 lead heading into the final stanza.  There were four lead changes in the third period with the final one taking place at the start of an 8-0 run by the Warriors. Green drove down the lane between a pair of Wildcat defenders with 2:54 left which turned a 40-39 deficit into a one-point lead.  Freshman Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep) connected on a jumper during WSU's next possession, and Green followed with a jumper.  The Warriors scored on their fourth straight possession as Green made a pair of foul shots.

WSU increased its lead to eight (48-40), the largest of the game by either team, on a free throw by Williams, but went scoreless for the next 4:45.  Murphy's jumper in the paint at the 4:00 mark ended a field goal drought of over 7:30 by the Warriors.  Meanwhile, Northern Michigan had pulled within two (48-46) on a pair of baskets by Bre Gaspervich and two foul shots by Taylor Hodell.  After Murphy's hoop, NMU's Tess Weatherly drained a three points to make it a one-point game (50-49).  Birchmeier then had a steal and offensive rebound leading to a lay-up by Green and a 52-49 lead with 2:15 left.  After Wildcat Sydney Dillinger split a pair from the charity stripe, Green was called for an offensive foul along with a technical.  Gaspervich split the free throws and Hodell was subsequently called for a charge with 1:19 remaining.

Each team failed to score on its next possession, and Northern Michigan was forced to foul trailing by one (52-51) and only having been called for two fouls all quarter.  On the third foul in 3.1 seconds, Chambers made both foul shots to increase the margin to three (54-51) with 15.2 seconds left.  Gaspervich was fouled and made both free throws with 14.1 seconds remaining to make it a one-point contest again at 54-53.  Junior Shannon Wilson (W. Bloomfield, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills) made the second of two foul shots with 9.8 seconds left but Gaspervich missed on a lay-up and Weatherly was able to convert a triple try just before the buzzer sounded.

TEAM STATS

Wayne State shot 39 percent (22-of-57) from the floor, while NMU made 31 percent (16-of-52) of its field goal attempts.  WSU was just 3-of-13 (23 percent) from beyond the arc, with the Wildcats connecting on just 4-of-18 (22 percent) from three-point range.  The Warriors made 62 percent (8-of-13) from the charity stripe, while Northern Michigan was 17-of-20 (85 percent).  NMU held a slim 38-36 edge in rebounding along with a 21-14 advantage in second-chance points.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Green had a career-high 25 points and equaled a career-best with three blocked shots.  Wilson dished out a game-high six assists, while Birchmeier had a team-best eight rebounds.

LEADING THE OPPOSITION

Gaspervich led NMU with 15 points, while Hodell added 13 points off the bench for a Wildcat team that was missing Chloe Tompkins, who was injured at SVSU on Thursday.  Hodell also had a team-high eight rebounds.

WORTH NOTING

Wayne State is 3-4 in games decided by three points or less this year, and that does not include the overtime loss at Walsh that ended being a nine-point setback at 45 minutes.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will play two GLIAC North Division road games next week visiting Grand Valley State on Thursday for a 6 p.m. match-up followed by a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday at Ferris State.