Wayne State University Athletics

Women's Basketball 2/20/2019 9:45:00 AM Lauren Bryne, Sports Information Graduate Intern

Women's Hoops Faces SVSU and Northwood on the Road

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball squad heads into the final three games of the regular-season in a four-way tie for fifth place in the GLIAC. The Warriors magic number is one to clinch a post-season berth. WSU visits Saginaw Valley State (6 p.m.) on Thursday and Northwood (4 p.m.) on Saturday.

THE SERIES
Wayne State trails 34-38 in the all-time series against SVSU, which began in 1976. The Warriors have won the last three meetings vs. the Cardinals, including a 50-48 triumph in Detroit last month. WSU is 16-20 all-time at Saginaw Valley State.

WSU leads 31-27 in the all-time series against the Timberwolves, which began in 1980. The Green and Gold have won three of the last four meetings, including a 59-57 victory in Midland on Jan. 13, 2018. The Warriors are 11-17 all-time at Northwood.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Saginaw Valley State snapped a three-game losing streak on Feb. 16 with a 77-73 win over Davenport. The Cardinals enter Thursday's contest with a 5-19 overall mark, along with a 5-12 GLIAC ledger under interim head coach Ryan Trevithick.

Senior forward Abby Duffy, who has played in just one of the last nine games, leads SVSU in both (13.8 PPG) and rebounding (11.6 RPG). Freshman guard Maddie Barrie (11.0 PPG) and senior guard Hannah Settingsgaard (10.2 PPG) also average in double figures with Barrie connecting on a team-high 33 triples. Freshman guard Maddie Maloney has a team-high 79 assists, while Settingsgaard has team-best totals of 23 steals and 20 blocks.

Northwood enters Thursday's home contest against Ashland with an overall mark of 11-14 and an 8-9 GLIAC record. Jeff Curtis has won 227 in his 15 years with the Timberwolves.

Sophomore guard Ellie Taylor is the lone NU player averaging in double figures at 12.9 PPG, while senior center Grace German is grabbing 8.8 rebounds per contest. The Timberwolves attempt over 23 three-pointers per game.

LAST TIME OUT
The Warriors topped Purdue Northwest, 93-68, last Saturday on Senior Day at the Matthaei.

WSU's senior starters outscored PNW 20-8 in the first 5:18, including 14 points by India Hawkins, who would finish with a career-high 22 points.

Nastassja Chambers and Ja'Nae Williams also scored in double digits with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Williams tallied game-high totals of nine rebounds, seven assists and six steals.

Wayne State tallied the most first quarter points (30) and the most first half points (49) this season.

NCAA TEAM RANKINGS
Wayne State is 43rd in the nation in both fewest turnovers per game (14.2), and with 15.7 personal fouls per contest. The Warriors are ranked 45th in both total rebounds (1,020) and offensive rebounds per game (14.0).

NATIONAL AND LEAGUE RANKINGS
Senior guard Ja'Nae Williams is third in the conference and 45th nationally with 58 steals. She is also third in the GLIAC and 52nd in the country with 6.6 defensive rebounds per game. Junior guard Alex Matus is sixth in the league with 45 made triples, while freshman forward Sam Cherney is third in the GLIAC, recording 3.0 offensive rebounds per contest.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
Ja'Nae Williams, a 5-8 guard, leads the squad in rebounds, grabbing double-digit boards in nine games. She has accumulated 203 rebounds (8.5RPG) this season. In addition, Williams has five double-doubles: against Findlay (10 points & 12 rebounds), at Tiffin (14 points & 10 rebounds), vs. Lake Superior State (18 points & 10 rebounds), versus Fairmont State (16 points & 11 rebounds), and at Ferris State (18 points & 11 rebounds).

CONNECTING FROM LONG DISTANCE
Alex Matus can be found beyond the arc, shooting a triple as she has already surpassed last season's total. Matus has drained 45-of-129 triple attempts in 25 contests this year, for a three-point field goal percentage of .349. Last year, she connected on 37-of-106 three-pointers in 26 games for a .349 shooting percentage.

TOUGH COMPETITION
As of Feb. 19, two GLIAC teams were ranked in the top 11 of the WBCA D2 Coaches Poll. Ashland (23-2) moved into the top 10 at No. 10 after winning two home contests last weekend. GVSU (23-2) climbed a spot to No. 11 after posting victories vs. Northwood and Saginaw Valley State.

MAKING STRIDES
Following the 2017-18 season record of 19-8, Wayne State was tied-for-eighth among the 2018 Most Improved Teams, along with Union (TN). WSU enhanced its record by 11.5 games, after an 8-20 record during the 2016-17 season.

LOHR REWRITES HISTORY
Following a 76-67 triumph at Purdue Northwest on Jan. 10, head coach Carrie Lohr became the winningest coach in WSU women's basketball history, with her 127th victory. In her eight seasons with the Warriors, Lohr is averaging 16.38 wins per season with a .587 winning percentage. She surpassed Gloria Bradley (2000-11) who had 126 wins (11.45 wins per season) and a winning percentage of .423.

Lohr has 298 collegiate coaching victories, including her nine seasons at St. Clair County Community College where she went 166-106.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Nastassja Chambers: G; 5' 9"; Junior

#20 India Hawkins: G; 5' 5"; Senior

#11 Alex Matus: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#4 Ja'Nae Williams: G; 5' 8"; Senior

#13 Sam Cherney: F; 6' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Nastassja Chambers
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

#20 India Hawkins
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

#11 Alex Matus
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#4 Ja'Nae Williams
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

#13 Sam Cherney
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: F