BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (6-12 overall, 3-8 GLIAC) suffered another tough loss on Saturday afternoon at Ferris State University (4-13 overall, 3-8 GLIAC) falling 83-80.  It was WSU's ffith setback of the season by three points or less and that total does not include a nine-point overtime defeat at Walsh.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Despite falling behind 9-0 in the first 2:45 of the contest, the Warriors won the opening stanza 20-16.  Wayne State had a 7-0 edge in points off turnovers and a 10-0 margin in bench points.  Freshman Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep) started the WSU offense with a traditional three-point play, then added a fast-break lay-up 35 seconds later.  A triple by sophomore India Hawkins (Detroit, Mich. / Edison Public School Academy) knotted the game at 14-14 with 1:38 left in the period.  Hawkins had a steal and lay-up 15 seconds later to give the Warriors their first lead of the game.  After a pair of Bulldog foul shots, Chambers scored from inside and sophomore Ja'Nae Williams (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) made two free throws putting WSU in front 20-16.

The second quarter was not kind to Wayne State, as WSU made just 6-of-21 (29 percent) from the floor and were 0-of-4 from the charity stripe in being out-scored 28-13.  Meanwhile, FSU was 8-of-13 from the field (62 percent) along with 11-of-13 (85 percent) from the foul line.  Ferris State led by 11 (44-33), its largest lead of the game, at intermission.

The Bulldogs led 52-42 with 6:15 remaining in the third period, before the Warriors went on a 7-0 run keyed by buckets from senior Christina Green (Southfield, Mich. / Lathrup) and junior Sara Ruhstorfer (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Flint Powers Catholic), and concluding with a triple by junior Shannon Wilson (W. Bloomfield, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills).  FSU answered with seven consecutive points and had a 63-54 advantage after 30 minutes.

Wayne State began the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run to take a one-point lead (64-63).  Chambers scored the first six points of the frame, before junior Payton Birchmeier (Corunna, Mich.) had an offensive put-back and Williams added two free throws.  A conventional three-point play by Wilson just before the mid-point of the period snapped a 68-68 draw and put the Warriors ahead by three (71-68).  Over the next three minutes, Ferris State went on an 11-3 run as WSU was 1-of-6 from the field and 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.  Wilson made two foul shots with 71 seconds remaining to cut WSU's deficit to two (80-78), but neither team could score until FSU's Alexis Bush made two free throws with seven seconds left.  Williams made a lay-up prior to Bulldog Rachael McInerney splitting a pair with four seconds remaining giving Wayne State one last chance but Hawkins triple was off the mark.

TEAM STATS

Wayne State shot 41 percent (30-of-73) from the field, compared to 56 percent (30-of-54) for FSU.  WSU was just 6-of-19 (32 percent) from three-point range, while the Bulldogs connected on 4-of-10 (40 percent) triple tries.  The Warriors made 14-of-19 (74 percent) free throw attempts with Ferris State shooting 79 percent (19-of-24) from the charity stripe.  Ferris State had a 46-28 margin in rebounding, while Wayne State had 10 turnovers to FSU's 26 miscues.

The 80 points scored by the Warriors were a season-high.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Chambers led three WSU players in double figures with 17 points.  She also had a game-high four steals.  Wilson chipped in with 15 points and a season-best five rebounds, while Williams contributed 14 points off the bench along with team-high totals of six rebounds and five assists.  Junior Daejia HIll (Muskegon, Mich. / Orchard View) tallied a season-high nine points, including 5-of-5 from the foul line.

LEADING THE BULLDOGS

McInerney notched a double-double with game-high totals of 22 points and 14 rebounds.  Riley Blair added 20 points, with Leah Humes contributing 13 points,  Bush had 12 points and a game-best six assists.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will play four of its next five games at the Matthaei starting with the Jan. 26 home contest against Northwood at 5:30 p.m. on Comcast/CN 900.