DETROIT – The Wayne State University women's basketball team (19-8 overall) was eliminated from postseason play on Wednesday, falling 64-56 to guest Northwood (17-10 overall) in the GLIAC quarterfinal contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Warriors got on the board just seven seconds into the contest thanks to a bucket from senior Payton Birchmeier (Corunna, Mich.).  Wayne State missed its next four field goals, however, allowing Northwood to take an early advantage.  After a three-pointer from NU's Zakiya Wells and two free throws from Maddy Seeley, the Timberwolves opened up a 5-2 lead.  Junior Ja'Nae Williams ended WSU's drought with an inside shot, but Seeley countered with a triple to make it 8-4 in favor of the Timberwolves.

The Green & Gold were able to tie the contest at 10-10 with 2:55 to play in the first quarter thanks to two free throws from senior Shannon Wilson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills), which proved to be the opening stages of a track meet between the two teams in the closing stages of the period.  

Karli Herrington made a layup, but moments later Birchmeier countered with a three.  On the next possession, Herrington hit another three, but Williams went to the other end and drilled another trey.  After a missed three-pointer on NU's end, sophomore Alex Matus (Millbury, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic) hit WSU's third straight three-ball, giving the team its biggest lead of the quarter at five (19-14) with 59 seconds on the clock.  NU's Lindsay Orwat drained a layup within the final minute, but Wilson countered on the other end to put the score at 21-16 after the first.

Wayne State led by as much as seven in the second, as senior Sara Ruhstorfer (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Flint Powers Catholic) and sophomore Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep) scored on back-to-back possessions.  That put the score at 25-18 with 7:24 to play, but the three-possession Warrior advantage didn't last long.  On the next trip down the court, Wells hit a three to cut WSU's lead to 25-21.  It was the start of a 10-4 run Northwood used to close out the half, which, at one point, included a one-point Timberwolf lead (28-27) after Herrington made a layup with 1:55 on the clock.  Matus made two free throws with 1:04 to play in the half, giving the Warriors their lead back before the intermission.

Wayne State's run carried over into the start of the third quarter, as Wayne State scored the first five points in the frame – a 7-0 run in all – to take a 34-28 lead with 1:06 gone, forcing an NU timeout.  The two teams went back-and-forth in the middle stages of the third stanza, with Wayne State getting up by as much as nine thanks to two Williams free throws at the 3:44 mark.  At that point, the Warriors led 41-32.

Northwood scored the next five points thanks to a jumper by Herrington and a three from Wells, and after Williams hit the front end of two free throws, NU's Taylor Craymer connected on a layup.  Suddenly, with 1:19 to play in the third quarter, Northwood found itself down just three.

Ruhstorfer helped the Warrior cause by hitting a three-pointer with 15 seconds left, but Seeley hit a buzzer-beating jumper to send the game into the fourth at 45-41 in favor of the Warriors.  The bucket did, however, start an 8-0 NU run, culminating in a triple from Seeley with 9:03 to play. More importantly, it gave The Timberwolves a 47-45 lead, and forced a Warrior timeout.  NU's lead was short lived thanks to four combined free throws from Ruhstorfer and Wilson, pushing a 49-47 WSU lead with 7:07 to play. 

The two teams went blow-for-blow with each other in the next two minutes, as Wilson hit a layup with 5:33 to play and Craymer countered with a triple.  Ahead 55-53 with 5:20 to play, Craymer hit another shot from beyond the arc, padding NU's lead to 58-53 at the 4:32 mark.

It turned out to be a dagger for the Warriors.  WSU went on a scoring freeze from the Wilson layup at 5:33 to a triple by the senior with 2:06 to play.  Ahead 58-56, NU hit a quick bucket on the next possession to push the lead to 60-56 – and, more importantly, to two possessions.
The Warriors came up empty on three straight drives in the final two minutes, allowing Northwood to use the clock to its advantage in the final 40 seconds.  Wayne State, still with two fouls to give, couldn't send the Timberwolves to the line until the 25-second mark.  NU, one of the best free throw-shooting teams in the GLIAC, hit both attempts, and connected on two more after another WSU failed possessions, sealing the Warriors' fate.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State shot 29.7 percent from the field (19-of-62), going 6-of-33 (18.2 percent) from beyond the arc.  Northwood shot 37.9 percent (22-of-58), going 8-of-28 (28.6 percent) from three-point territory.  Northwood had the slight edge in free throws, 85.7 percent (12-of-14) to 80 percent (12-of-15). 

NU won the rebounds battle (43-42), and also edged the Warriors in assists (11-9).  WSU had more blocks (5-3) and steals (6-2).

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Wilson led the way with 13 points, with Chambers and Williams adding 11 apiece.  Williams added nine rebounds; Chambers grabbed eight boards.

LEADING THE TIMBERWOLVES
Seeley led all scorers with 21 points.  Herrington finished with a double-double, scoring 16 points to go with her 14 rebounds.  Craymer added 11 points and nine rebounds, with Wells contributing 10 points.