STORYLINES
The Warriors will begin a three-game home stand hosting Wisconsin-Parkside on Friday, Feb.12 at 6 PM and Saturday, Feb. 13 at 2 PM.  WSU will host Ashland on Tuesday, Feb.16 at 6 PM in its final regular-season home game.
  
THE SERIES
The Warriors are 4-5 in the all-time series against Parkside.  WSU is 2-2 at home versus the Rangers after the Warriors won 81-62 in Detroit a year ago.

WSU trails 15-43 in the  all-time series versus Ashland.  The Eagles have won 12 straight against the Warriors, including seven straight at the Matthaei. AU defeated Wayne State 83-68 on January 26th. 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Parkside (6-5) is on a two-game winning streak after sweeping Ashland (80-71 and 94-81) last weekend in Wisconsin.  UWP has won four of its last five games. 

The Rangers are led in scoring by junior guard Alyssa Nelson (19.1 PPG) and senior guard Alexis Vaughn (11.8 PPG).  Vaughn leads the Rangers in assists (4.7 APG), while junior forward Hannah Plockelman leads in rebounding (7.2 RPG).

Ashland (6-5) has lost two straight after having a four-game winning streak (January 23-30).

The Eagles are led in scoring by sophomore forward Annie Roshak (22.1 PPG) and senior forward Karlee Pireu (19.3 PPG).  Pireu leads Ashland in rebounding (8.6 RPG) and in steals (2.4 SPG).

PURDUE NORTHWEST SERIES RECAP
Wayne State split its away series with Purdue Northwest winning 61-56 in OT, before falling 81-64.

In the series opener, both teams scored 25 points in the first half and 28 in the second half.  WSU outscored the Pride 8-3 in the extra session. 

Kate Sherwood led WSU with a game-high 15 points. Alexis Miller contributed 13 points, and team-high totals of two assists and four steals.  Becca Fugate helped out with 11 points.  Jolee Houle added nine points off the bench on three triples.  Sam Cherney grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Warriors trailed 21-18 after the opening stanza on Saturday, before the Pride extended their lead to 35-31 at halftime.  PNW continued to surge outscoring Wayne State 24-18 in the third quarter and 22-15 in the final period.

Tori Perez led WSU with a game-high and a career-best 26 points and nine rebounds.  Sherwood helped with 10 points and a team-high five assists.  Cherney and Chenelle King each had eight points with Cherney chipping in with nine rebounds.

NCAA STATS RECAP
WSU ranks 20th in NCAA Division II in blocked shots per game (4.3), 37th in blocked shots (47), 36th in rebounding margin (+6.1), 49th in rebounds per game (41.09).

Junior forward Sam Cherney is 13th in both blocked shots per game (2.45), 15th in total blocks (27), 23rd in rebounds per game (10.3), 30th in defensive rebounds per game (7.0), and 41st in rebounds (113). 

CHERNEY IS BLOCKING HER WAY INTO THE RECORD BOOKS
Wayne State junior Sam Cherney became the school's all-time leader in blocked shots with three rejections at Saginaw Valley State (2/22/20).

A year ago, she became the first player in school history to average over two blocks per game for an entire season.

This year Cherney is averaging nearly three blocks per game and has at least two blocks in all but three contests this season.  Cherney had recorded at least one blocked shot in 17 consecutive games until having that streaked snapped last Saturday at Purdue Northwest.

TABBED FOR FOURTH
Wayne State was voted fourth in the GLIAC South Division Preseason Coaches Poll.  Ashland was selected first in the South Division with 11 first-place votes and 61 points.  Grand Valley State earned the other first-place vote and 43 points.  Saginaw Valley State (39 points) and Wayne State (28 points) were ahead of Northwood (27 points) and Davenport (18 points).

GLIAC ACCOLADES
Junior forward Grace George was selected GLIAC South Division Player of the Week after helping the Warriors to a split against Northwood.  It is her first weekly honor from the conference office.

In the game one victory, George had game-high totals of 30 points and 12 rebounds, while shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.  She scored a game-best 22 points in the game two setback, along with tying for team-high honors with three assists.  For the weekend, George averaged 26.0 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 53 percent (19-of-36) from the floor, including 56 percent from three-point range (5-of-9).  She was also 9-of-12 (75 percent) from the charity stripe, while contributing three assists and three blocks.

WARRIOR COACHES
Assistant coach Karen Lafata, who holds three degrees from Wayne State, has been with head coach Carrie Lohr for all nine-plus seasons.  Graduate assistant Christina Green joined the coaching staff in the summer of 2019.  Green played basketball for the Warriors between 2013 and 2017 scoring in double figures 19 times.

WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS
Every home basketball game this season will be streamed live for free.  Former Warrior football standout Brady Beedon will call Friday's game, while veteran Detroit sportscaster Joe Abramson will handle Saturday's contest.