MIDLAND, Mich. -- The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (11-4 overall, 6-3 GLIAC) is the second-hottest team in the GLIAC having won four straight after a thrilling 59-57 comeback win at Northwood University (9-6 overall, 5-4 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon.  The victory moves WSU into sole possession of fourth place in the league standings.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After opening up a 4-0 lead on baskets by sophomore Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep) and junior Ja'Nae Williams (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King), the Warriors had to tie the game at 6-6 on a lay-up by freshman Tori Perez (Belleville, Mich.).  The host Timberwolves scored eight of the last nine points in the opening stanza to lead 14-7 after 10 minutes.

WSU won the second quarter, 13-12, by scoring the last eight points before intermission after trailing 26-12.  Williams had five points and Chambers chipped in with an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 26-20 at halftime.

Sophomore Alex Matus (Millbury, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic) scored the first four points of the third period on a bucket and two free throws to cut the Wayne State deficit to two (26-24).  The Warriors never got closer than two the rest of the stanza and even trailed by 11 (41-30) with just under five minutes remaining in the quarter.

Senior Sara Ruhstorfer (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Flint Powers Catholic) connected from beyond the arc to pull WSU within two (47-45) early in the fourth period.  An 8-1 run by Northwood gave the hosts a nine-point advantage (55-46) with just under six minutes remaining.

From that point on, the Warrior defense did not allow a field goal as NU went 0-for-5 with five turnovers in its seven possessions, which included three offensive rebounds.

Senior Shannon Wilson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills) took over scoring WSU's final 11 points after a basket by Chambers made it 55-48.  Wilson made two shots from the charity stripe with 46.1 seconds on the clock to knot the game at 55-55.  Northwood's Karli Herrington also made two free throws giving the Timberwolves a 57-55 lead with 27.7 seconds left.

WSU called a timeout to advance the ball and Wilson made a field goal and was fouled with 11.7 seconds remaining.  Wilson missed the free throw leaving the game tied at 57, but Ruhstorfer then came up with a late steal and fed Williams.  Wilson took a pass from Williams and hit a jumper as time ran out.

TEAM STATS

Wayne State shot 39 percent (19-of-49) from the floor, compared to 43 percent (22-of-51) for NU.  WSU made 33 percent (6-of-18) of its shots from beyond the arc, while the Timberwolves were 5-of-17 (29 percent) from three-point range.  The Warriors shot 68 percent (15-of-22) from the free throw line, with Northwood converting eight of its nine foul shots (89 percent).

Northwood won the battle of the boards, 37-26, but Wayne State had just nine turnovers to NU's 15 miscues.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Wilson scored a game-high 23 points, and also tied for the team lead with four rebounds.  Ruhstorfer contributed eight points, three rebounds, a team-high three assists and two steals, including the one in the waning seconds.

LEADING THE TIMBERWOLVES

Taylor Craymer had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Herrington chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds.

UP NEXT

Wayne State begins a four-game homestand on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. against nationally-ranked Michigan Tech.  The game will be televised live on Comcast CN 900 with Sean Baligian, Rod Beard and Joe Abramson calling the action.