STORYLINES
The Warriors rebounded from a 120-70 loss at #1-Ashland on Dec. 7 with a  65-56 home win over Tiffin on Dec. 9, and will look to conclude the 2017 portion of this year's schedule on a high note while traveling to Davenport.  It's the first trip to DU's campus for the Warriors, as the Panthers are in their first year of play in the GLIAC.

Saturday's contest is the start of a two-game road swing for Wayne State, but the final contest before an extended break.  Following the conclusion of the DU game, the team will take a 19-day layoff before returning to action at Ferris State on Jan. 4.

THE SERIES
This is the first meeting between the Warriors and the Panthers. 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Davenport had lost five of its last six contests before a 63-51 win against Governors State on Wednesday.  DU stopped a four-game skid Dec. 7,  as it earned its first-ever GLIAC win against Tiffin (58-53).  The Panthers have played the same four conference opponents as the Warriors this season, with common losses to Grand Valley State (75-41) and #1-Ashland (96-50), and a common win over the Dragons.  The lone difference was DU's loss to Purdue Northwest (63-53) in the team's GLIAC opener on Nov. 30. 

Senior forward Emily Severn is the Panthers' lone player averaging double digits, as she's contributing 12.1 points per outing in 33.0 minutes per game.  Severn is also shooting 76.9 percent from the free throw line with 5.9 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per match-up.  

Junior guard Amanda Mertz and sophomore center Jenna Falkenberg are second and third on the team, respectively, in points scored per game.  Mertz is putting up 7.5 PPG, while grabbing 5.0 RPG and adding a team-best 3.4 helpers each time out.  She also leads te roster with 26 steals.  Falkenberg is averaging 7.4 PPG and is the team leader at 7.1 rebounds per meeting.  She's also the team leader in the blocks, racking up 16 through the first 10 games.LAST TIME OUT
Despite several instances of seesaw action in Saturday's 65-56 home matinee win over Tiffin, Wayne State never lost the lead after taking it for the first time 2:47 into the contest.  The Warriors led by as much as 17 early in the second quarter, but the Dragons clawed their way back in the second half.  Tiffin  trailed by as little as two midway through the third quarter and got within three with 4:08 to play in regulation. 

Shannon Wilson led the way with 15 points for the Warriors, with Nastassja Chambers scoring 13.  Wilson also had seven boards, combining with Payton Birchmeier and Ja'Nae Williams (nine apiece) to account for 25 of WSU's 42 rebounds. 

START IT OFF
Junior India Hawkins made her first start of the season at #1-Ashland on Thursday, and found herself in the opening lineup again on Saturday against Tiffin.  It's just the fourth time Hawkins was on the floor at the opening tip and the first in nearly two years (Jan. 7, 2016 vs. Tiffin).  The Warrior lineup has stayed consistent this season; Hawkins is only the seventh different player to make it in the starting lineup. 

REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
The Warriors have reached the century mark twice this year, marking the first time since the 2002-03 season that WSU has accomplished this feat.  Prior to the current campaign, Wayne State had scored at least 100 points six times including the 2002-03 season.  The most recent time was a 111-106 double overtime setback at Ohio Dominican (Jan. 16, 2016).  Prior to that loss, WSU had won the five previous games (107-35 vs. Michigan-Dearborn on Nov. 18, 2014; 132-13 vs. Temple Baptist on Dec. 29, 2007; 102-73 vs. Mercyhurst on Feb. 28, 2004; 112-47 vs. Rochester on Jan. 30, 2003; and 102-73 vs. Madonna on Dec. 12, 2002).

NATIONAL RANKINGS
Through the first 10 games, Wayne State finds itself among some of the nation's best in several statistical categories.  The Warriors have the 19th-best scoring margin in the country (26.6), rank 10th in scoring offense (81.3 PPG), 21st in field goal percentage (45.3 percent) and 25th in three-point field goals per game (8.4). 

DOUBLE UP
Junior guard Ja'Nae Williams recorded her second double-double of the season Dec. 2, scoring 15 points while dishing out 10 assists against Purdue Northwest.  Williams started the season with 24 points and 11 rebounds in an win against Findlay.

MODELS OF CONSISTENCY
Several Warriors have tallied stat categories in every single outing.  Senior Shannon Wilson has a triple and an assist in all 10 contests, adding at least one steal in nine outings and one rebound in eight games.  Senior Payton Birchmeier has a rebound in every contest and a steal in nine games.  Junior Ja'Nae Williams has a point in every contest despite coming off the bench four times, and has a rebound in every game.  Sophomore Nastassja Chambers has recorded a free throw in all  but one competition and a rebound in eight contests.  Juniors India Hawkins has a rebound in eight contests, while fellow junior Jessica Murphy has connected on a triple in eight games this season.

HOLD THAT LEAD
Wayne State has led the entire game four different times this season (Oakland City, Wright State Lake, Michigan-Dearborn and Purdue Northwest).  The Warriors trailed by two against Lake Erie, but took the lead 1:12 into the contest and never fell behind again.  Against Tiffin, WSU trailed for 34 seconds early in the first quarter, but took the lead  for good with 7:28 to play in the opening period. 

WARRIOR ADVANTAGE
Wayne State has had the lead at least once in all 10 contests it has played this season.  The Warriors led by as much as four in the first half against Southern Indiana, held a two-point advantage in the final nine seconds against GVSU, and led by as many as five in the first period against top-ranked Ashland.

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). 

GARNERING GLIAC AWARDS
Senior guard Shannon Wilson was named the GLIAC South Division Player of the Week on Nov. 13.  Wilson tallied 35 points in the overtime win over Findlay on Nov. 11 and followed that with a 16-point performance in the triumph over Lak Erie Nov. 13 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.

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.

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. 

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.