DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (5-1 overall) concluded the non-conference portion of its regular-season schedule with a 90-30 home court victory over Michigan-Dearborn (4-8 overall) Sunday afternoon at the Matthaei.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Warriors scored the first seven points of the contest and eventually led 10-2 just over two minutes into the match.  The Wolverines had three turnovers on their first three possessions, then missed a triple try before Sade Lemons connected on a jumper in the paint.  Meanwhile, WSU's first six points all came on the fast break with junior Jessica Murphy (Oxford, Mich.) making two buckets and classmate Ja'Nae Williams (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) getting the other hoop, plus a free throw.  Senior Shannon Wilson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills) made a shot from beyond the arc to conclude the 10-2 run.

Wayne State held a 13-9 scoring edge the rest of the opening period to lead 23-11 after 10 minutes.  Wilson connected again from downtown to score a team-best six points in the first stanza.

The Warriors scored the first six points of the second quarter on baskets by sophomore Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep), freshman Cydney Williams (Canton, Mich. / Arbor Prep) and senior Payton Birchmeier (Corunna, Mich.).  Following a lay-up by UMD's Emily Heinrich, WSU rattled off a 13-2 spurt, highlighted by five points from Wilson.  Wayne State led 47-17 at the break after shooting 65 percent (20-of-31) from the floor in the first half and limiting the Wolverines to 26 percent (7-of-27).  UMD also had 15 turnover, but held an 18-16 edge in rebounding.

WSU tallied the first eight points of the third quarter on triples by Chambers and Murphy sandwiched around a fast-break lay-up by Chambers.  Wayne State had a 29-7 scoring advantage in the third period, which included 5-of-8 on three-point attempts.

The Warriors closed out the game with a 14-6 scoring margin in the final stanza.

TEAM STATS

WSU shot 60 percent (36-of-60) from the floor, compared to 25 percent (13-of-53) for the Wolverines.  The Warriors connected on 9-of-21 triple tries (43 percent), while Michigan-Dearborn was just 1-of-13 (8 percent) from beyond the arc.  Wayne State shot 60 percent (9-of-15) from the foul line with UMD shooting 30 percent (3-of-10).  The Wolverines won the battle of the boards, 38-34, but the WSU defense forced 27 miscues, while Wayne State had 12 turnovers and 16 steals.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Chambers led three Warriors in double figures with a game-high 16 points.  Wilson added 11 points, a game-best four assists and three steals, while junior Paige Villemure (Flat Rock, Mich.) added 11 points.  Cydney Williams and freshman Tori Perez (Belleville, Mich.) tied for team-high rebounding honors with five apiece.  All 15 WSU players that participated scored at least two points.

LEADING THE WOLVERINES

Lemons garnered a double-double with a team-high 10 points to go along with her game-best 10 rebounds.  Megan Swick had four steals for UMD.

UP NEXT

Wayne State's final 20 regular-season contests will all be conference games with GLIAC play beginning on Thursday as WSU hosts Grand Valley State in a 5:30 p.m. game.

Twitter  |   Facebook   |  Instagram  |   YouTube