Women's Basketball | 11/16/2017 4:08:00 PM

STORYLINES
Wayne State went 2-0 at the GLIAC/G-MAC Challenge in Painesville, Ohio, rallying from a 20-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat Findlay (92-88 OT) on Saturday, before defeating host Lake Erie (76-54) on Sunday.  The Warriors will hit the road for the second straight weekend, traveling to Oakland City for an 8 p.m. match-up on Thursday, before taking on GLVC opponent Southern Indiana on Saturday.

THE SERIES
This will be the first meeting between Wayne State and Oakland City.

The Warriors are 2-9 all-time against the Screaming Eagles in a series that began in 1997.  Wayne State is 0-5 when visiting USI, including an 81-71 setback on Nov. 20, 2010.  Wayne State earned its first series win over Southern Indiana on Dec. 30, 2011, winning 77-58 at the Matthaei Center.  WSU also won 77-58 in a neutral site game on Dec. 21, 2013, prior to last year's 67-55 USI victory in Detroit.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Oakland City is coming off two weekend losses to Indiana University-Southeast (87-73) and Franklin College (66-64).  The Mighty Oaks return just five players from the 2016-17 team that finished 17-6 overall  and 14-4 at home.  Senior guard Alicia Wilson averaged 15.0 PPG in the first two contests, while junior guard Olivia Carroll added 13.5 PPG.  Freshman Lexi Payne -- one of five newcomers this season -- had a total of 10 assists in the first two contests.  

Southern Indiana got off to a fast start in the opening weekend's slate of games, earning two home wins against Northwood (78-39) and Saginaw Valley State (86-60) in the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge.  The Screaming Eagles return seven letterwinners from the 2016-17 team that went 24-5 and finished first in the GLVC East (16-2).  Senior guard/forward Kaydie Grooms, last season's leading scorer (15.4 PPG), averaged 20.0 points in the campaign's first two contests and went 10-for-11 from the free throw line.  Senior forward Morgan Dahlstrom scored 18.0 PPG in the opening weekend and averaged 11 rebounds per outing.   USI has had success protecting its home court, going 13-3 at the Physical Activities Center last season.

GARNERING GLIAC AWARDS
Senior guard Shannon Wilson was named the GLIAC South Division Player of the Week on Monday.  Wilson tallied 35 points in the overtime win over Findlay on Saturday and followed that with a 16-point performance in Sunday's triumph over the host Storm to average 25.5 points on the weekend.  She shot 55 percent (17-of-31) from the field, and 88 percent (14-of-16) from the foul line, while contributing 11 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and one block.

LEADING  THE WAY
Wayne State wrapped up the first weekend of the regular season as statistical leaders in several team and individual categories within the GLIAC.  The Warriors rank second in rebounds per game (47.0) and free throw percentage (.857) and third in points per game (84.0) and blocks (3.5 per game). WSU is also fifth in points allowed (71.0 per game) and tied-for -fifth in steals (8.0 per game),

Individually, senior guard Shannon Wilson leads the league in points per game (25.5), while sophomore guard Nastassja Chambers is tied for the lead with a perfect 1.000 free throw percentage. Junior Ja'Nae Williams is fourth in rebounds per game (9.0), and right behind her is senior forward Payton Birchmeier (8.5 RPG).

WARM WELCOME
Freshmen Cydney Williams and Tori Perez made their collegiate debuts over the weekend.  Williams logged six minutes against Findlay and played four minutes against Lake Erie, scoring two points, while grabbing three rebounds against the Storm. Perez played three minutes against Lake Erie.

GO FOR TWO
The Warriors have started 2-0 in three of the past four seasons. The last time Wayne State won its first two contests (2015-16), the team defeated Ohio Valley (76-45) and Salem International (84-46).  Those games were also a part of the GLIAC/G-MAC Challenge and, coincidentally, were also played in Painesville, Ohio.

NEW FACES
The 2017-18 campaign features four new faces on this season's 16-player roster.  Freshmen Tori Perez, Anna Ruhstorfer and Cydney Williams will join redshirt freshman transfer Chavon Tiggs on the Warrior roster this season.  Additionally, redshirt freshman Amber Stephens will join the lineup after missing all of 2016-17 with a pre-season injury.

DON'T I KNOW YOU?
This season's roster includes two pairings of sisters, as twins Alex and Lyndsey Matus will be joined by Sara Ruhstorfer and her sister Anna.  Freshman Cydney Williams will team up with former high school teammate Nastassja Chambers, as the two won a state championship at Arbor Prep in 2016.

CHAMBERS CONTRIBUTING ALL-AROUND THE COURT
Nastassja Chambers made an impact in her first collegiate season.  She led the squad in points (358), free throw percentage (.842 / 85-of-101), assists (54), steals (53) and minutes played per game (30.4 per game) last season.  Chambers also led the team in field goals made (132) and free throws made (85).

MOVING UP IN THE BOOKS
Senior Shannon Wilson will have plenty of opportunities to cement her legacy during the 2017-18 season.  She recently moved into a tie for 25th in career scoring at Wayne State (852 points) and 27th in career scoring average (10.8 PPG).  Wilson is also 11th in career three-point field goal percentage (.336 / 96-of-286, minimum 75 made), tied-for-14th in three-pointers made (96), 18th in free throw percentage (.728 / 142-of-195, minimum 75 made), 19th in field goal percentage (.428 / 307-of-717, minimum 150 made), 24th in assists (167), tied-for-27th in field goals made (307), 31st in assists average (2.1), and 33rd in minutes played (1,979).

PRE-SEASON ACCOLADES
Senior Shannon Wilson was named to the Preseason All-GLIAC South Division Team before the start of the season.  It's the first time Wilson has received the honor.

RUHSTORFER SETTING CAREER HIGHS
Junior Sara Ruhstorfer took advantage of increased playing time last season and made more triples in 2016-17 (21) than she did in her first two seasons combined (9).  She surpassed her first two-year totals in rebounds (28) and steals (14) with  49 and 33, respectively, last season.

TRANSFERRING TALENT
Sophomore transfer Sadia Johnson joined the Warriors after spending 2016-17 as a major contributor at Adrian College.  Johnson was the only Bulldog to start all 24 games and led the team in points (16.0 PPG), free throws made (92) and attempted (123), and minutes played (26.2 per game). She was also third in the MIAA in field goal percentage (42.4) and was tied for the team lead with 25 three-pointers.

TOUGH COMPETITION
Two GLIAC teams were ranked in the top 25 of the WBCA D2 Preseason Coaches Poll.  Defending national champion Ashland received 23 of the 24 first-place votes and was ranked No. 1 once again, with Michigan Tech ranked 20th after a 20-8 season in 2016-17.

NATIONAL RANKINGS
After the first weekend of competition, Wayne State is fifth nationally in free throw percentage (.857), ninth in offensive rebounds per game (21.0), and 22nd in fewest turnovers per game (12.0).

Payton Birchmeier is 16th in offensive rebounds per game (5.5).  Shannon Wilson is 31st in free throws made (31) and eighth in points per game (25.5).  Ja'Nae Williams is tied-for-34th in double-doubles (1).
 
WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS
All  Wayne  State  home  women's  basketball  games  can  be  watched  via  Warrior All-Access for a $5.95 per game fee.  All 12 home contests during the 2017-18 season will be available on All-Access.  Monthly passes are available for $9.95, and year-long access is offered for $69.95.

COMCAST/XFINITY
Every women's basketball home game beginning in 2018 will be aired live throughout the state of Michigan on Comcast CN 900.  Sean Baligian, Rod Beard and Joe Abramson will call the action.