DETROIT – The Wayne State University women's basketball team (9-4 overall, 4-3 GLIAC) used a 23-point opening quarter outburst to defeat guest Lake Superior State (0-11 overall, 0-7 GLIAC) 76-43 Saturday afternoon.

During the fourth quarter, senior Shannon Wilson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills) eclipsed the 1,000-point mark.  She becomes the 17th player in Wayne State history to accomplish the feat.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Warriors held the Lakers to just one first quarter field goal, which occurred with just 44 seconds left in the frame.  The Warriors started the game on a 15-0 run and ended the first period with a 23-3 lead, which included five three pointers.

The second quarter was a more balanced affair, with the Warriors expanding their lead by one (37-36) entering the half, thanks to a 14-13 stanza that favored the home team.  Sophomore Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep) scored eight of her 12 first-half points in the quarter on 4-for-6 shooting, while playing the entire 10 minutes of the quarter.

In the third, senior Payton Birchmeier (Corunna, Mich.) started the offensive effort with a jumper just seven seconds into the second half.  LSSU made a run at that point, rattling off a 7-0 streak to cut the WSU lead to 16 at 39-23.  The Warriors responded with a 13-2 run, opening up a 52-25 advantage with 3:37 left to play in the third.  By quarter's end, the Warriors were up 62-28.   Wayne State eventually led by as much as 40 midway through the third before the Lakers closed the gap down the stretch.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State shot 49.1 percent from the field (27-of-55) and 47.1 percent from the three-point line (8-for-17).  LSSU was 17-of-47 from the field (36.2 percent) and shot 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from beyond the arc. From the free throw line, WSU made 14-of-19 (73.7 percent), while LSSU was at 55.6 percent (5-of-9).

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Chambers scored 17 points to lead all scorers and added three steals, two rebounds and an assist.  Sophomore Alex Matus (Millbury, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic) scored 14 points with four rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Birchmeier had 12 points.  Junior Ja'Nae Williams (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) had a game-high 11 rebounds.

LEADING THE LAKERS
Tamara Novic scored 13 points with seven rebounds to lead Lake Superior.  She also had two steals and an assist.

UP NEXT
The Warriors will stay home on Thursday, hosting Saginaw Valley State. The GLIAC contest will tip at 5:30 p.m.