DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (4-1 overall) extended its winning streak to four with a 54-47 triumph over visiting Walsh University (2-3 overall) to conclude the 2022 Warrior Holiday tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Cavaliers scored the first four points before WSU rallied with five consecutive points by senior guard Becca Fugate (Holly, Mich.) on a lay-up and a triple.  In a game of streaks, Walsh responded with a 5-0 run for a 9-5 lead with just over 4:30 remaining in the stanza.

Back-to-back buckets by sophomore Alyssa Leister (St. Louis, Mich. / Alma) tied the game at 9-9, before WU's Morgan McMillen connected on a jumper giving the guests an 11-9 advantage.  The Cavaliers led 12-9 after 10 minutes.

Second Quarter
A lay-up by Walsh's Kiley Dyrlund on the opening possession of the second period followed by a triple from Faith Williams 86 seconds later extended the visitors lead to eight (17-9).  Wayne State pulled within four (19-15) on a basket by senior Maxine Moore (Southfield, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) and two foul shots by freshman Ashley Bower (Portland, Mich.).  The Cavaliers had their largest lead of the game at nine (26-17) following a triple by Emma Dretke with 3:47 left before intermission.  The Warriors closed the half on a 7-2 run making it a four-point game (28-24) at halftime.  Fugate had the final five WSU points of the first half.

Third Quarter
Walsh scored the first four points of the second half, prior to a lay-up from Bower at the 8:04 mark.  A 9-0 run by Wayne State turned a 35-28 deficit into a 37-35 lead.  A steal by Leister followed by a triple ignited the run which also included a lay-up by freshman Taylor Thompson (Grand Blanc, Mich.), a lay-up by Leister, and a go-ahead jumper by sophomore Shea Tripp (Jackson, Mich. / Michigan Center).  A conventional three-point play by Dyrlund put the Cavaliers in front 38-37, preceded a pair of lead changes and a game-tying jumper by Leister near the end of the period.

Fourth Quarter
With the score knotted at 41-41 and 10 minutes to play, Wayne State turned up its defense only allowing Walsh to make one two-point field goal (1-of-9 on two-point field goal attempts), one triple (1-of-3 from beyond the arc), and one foul shot (1-of-3 from the charity stripe) in the final stanza and WSU out-scored the guests 13-6 in the quarter.

Tripp connected on her lone three-point attempt of the game on WSU's second possession of the period, then scored off a feed from Fugate the next trip down the court prompting a Walsh timeout.  The Cavaliers scored the next five points before Fugate split a pair of free throws.  A Leister lay-up from Tripp with just over four minutes left extended the margin to three at 49-46.  WU's Williams made the first of two foul shot attempts with 2:27 remaining, but would be the final points of the game for the visitors as Wayne State secured the win with two baskets from Tripp and a free throw from Fugate.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State shot 42 percent (22-of-53) from the floor, while limiting the Cavaliers to 31 percent on 17-of-55.  WSU was just 4-of-23 (17 percent) from beyond the arc, while Walsh was 4-of-17 (24 percent).  The Warriors were 6-of-8 (75 percent) from the charity stripe with WU making 9-of-14 (64 percent) foul shot attempts.  Wayne State had a 39-35 edge in rebounding , but the Warriors had 22 turnovers to Walsh's 21 miscues.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Leister tallied a game-high 15 points, while Thompson was a +17 (plus/minus) in 17 minutes.  Tripp nearly posted the third triple-double in program history finishing with 13 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.  Fugate contributed 12 points.

LEADING THE CAVALIERS
Dyrlund scored a team-best 12 points, while McMillen chipped in with 11 points.  Lexie Scarton totaled a team-high eight rebounds, a game-best six steals, along with six points and four assists.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will play a non-conference game at D'Youville University in Buffalo, New York, at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 28.  The Saints are coached by former Warrior Ali Bouman.