Women's Basketball 1/24/2024 3:32:00 PM Matthew Jurek, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Women's Basketball Wraps Up Three-Game Home Stretch with Ferris State and Lake Superior State

Saturday's contest will mark the halfway point of the conference schedule.

GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State will play the final two contests of its three-game home stand against #7-Ferris State and Lake Superior State. The Warriors and Bulldogs will square off at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 25, before WSU welcomes LSSU to the Wayne State Fieldhouse for a 1 p.m. tip on Saturday, January 27.

SERIES HISTORY
Wayne State and Ferris State have played a tight all-time season series, with FSU ahead 42-40. The Warriors claimed both games last season in close fashion, downing the Bulldogs by three (58-55) in Detroit on January 21, 2023, and by one (64-63) in Big Rapids on February 9, 2023. WSU has won eight of the last 11 against Ferris State, including a stretch of four in a row between March 3, 2020 (a GLIAC Quarterfinal game) and January 6, 2022.

WSU maintains a slim 43-42 edge in the all-time series against Lake Superior State. The Warriors had won seven straight contests against LSSU between January 30, 2020, and January 19, 2023, but a 72-62 victory for the Lakers in the most recent meeting broke that streak. The history between the two programs has been one of trends. The Green and Gold notched 16 wins in the first 20 meetings between 1975 and 1985, before Lake Superior State went on an extended run between 1986 and 2010 with 34 victories in 41 games played during the span. Since 2010, Wayne State has returned to its prior success against its northern foe with 20 triumphs in the last 24 meetings.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Ferris State has won its last five games to improve to 12-2 on the season. FSU's win streak includes a 71-65 victory over #1-Grand Valley State last Saturday in its most recent match-up. The Bulldogs are 6-1 in the GLIAC and average 76.9 points per game, which is second behind Parkside for most in the league. FSU was ranked seventh in the most recent WBCA Poll released on January 23.

Ferris State has several standout players to watch out for as one of the best teams in the nation, led by 2023-24 GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year Chloe Idoni. The senior ranks fourth in the GLIAC in points per game (15.4) and leads her squad in field goals (79), free throws (47), free throw percentage (.887), blocked shots (20), steals (26), and rebounds (91). Another notable Bulldog is senior guard Mallory McCartney. McCartney is a premier three-point shooter, leading FSU with 37 made triples. Her .430 three-point percentage is second in the conference. She also has managed 81 assists, which is 50 more than anyone else on Ferris State.

The head coach of FSU in his fourth season is Kurt Westendorp. He has compiled a 57-37 (.606) overall record and a 34-29 (.540) GLIAC ledger.

Lake Superior State enters Thursday's contest at Saginaw Valley State with a 1-15 overall record and an 0-7 GLIAC mark. LSSU averages 56.2 points per game and has allowed 75.3 PPG in its 16 games this campaign.

The Lakers have one of the better players in the GLIAC on their roster in sophomore forward Grace Bradford. Bradford is one the best rebounders in the country, as her 8.1 defensive boards per game is seventh in Division II. She also paces the conference with 10.6 rebounds per game, the only player in the league averaging more than 10 RPG. Bradford is LSSU's team leader in field goals (73), free throws (44), steals (22), and three-point percentage (.311), as well as in rebounds (170). Freshman guard Breah Golden is tied for the team-high with 15 triples, while first on the roster with 34 assists. Freshman forward Iara Navarro has a squad-best nine blocked shots.

Brandon Lokken is in his seventh season at the helm of Lake Superior State. He has led LSSU to a 32-132 (.195) overall record and a 17-104 (.141) GLIAC ledger in that span.

LAST WEEKEND RECAP
Wayne State played just one game last week, a 74-69 triumph over visiting Saginaw Valley State. The Warriors trailed by five (27-22) at halftime following cold shooting in which the team made 29 percent (6-of-21) of its attempts from the floor. WSU recovered in the second half, out-scoring SVSU 29-24 in the third stanza to draw even with the Cardinals. Gabi Lutchka and Becca Fugate would each sink a pair of foul shots to erase a 51-47 Saginaw Valley State lead in the final minute of the period. With the score even, it became a battle of winning the final 10-minute stretch. The contest had four lead changes in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, and the visitors had a two-point edge (69-67) with 2:58 remaining. However, the Cardinals would not score again, and the Green and Gold ended the game on a 7-0 run to secure the five-point triumph. Fugate had a team-best 16 points and was one of three scorers to tie for the game high. Lutchka (15 points) and Shea Tripp (10) also reached double figures. Kate McArthur paced the team with five assists.

FUGATE'S TWO MILESTONES
Redshirt senior guard Becca Fugate has eclipsed two milestones during the 2023-24 season. The fifth-year Warrior reached the 1,000-point plateau in the win over Purdue Northwest on January 4, which made her the 19th women's basketball player in program history to achieve the feat. Fugate also became the all-time games played leader at WSU after appearing in her 119th contest on January 20th against Saginaw Valley State. She passed Brittany Streetman's 118 games played between 2012 and 2016 for most all-time at Wayne State.

SLIM MARGINS
Wayne State has played several close contests since beginning GLIAC play, showing just how difficult league action can be. WSU's five-point triumph (74-69) over Saginaw Valley State on January 20th was the third such contest decided by five points or fewer. Coincidentally, the final scores have been in the last three WSU victories. The Green and Gold defeated Purdue Northwest by five (76-71) on January 4, while handling Davenport by four (85-81) in a match-up that went into overtime on January 11.

The Warriors have an average margin of victory of 15.2 in its 11 triumphs this season over Malone, CU, Tiffin, Lawrence Tech, Edinboro, D'Youville, Michigan Tech, Findlay, PNW, DU, and SVSU.

NATIONAL ATTENTION
Through games on January 22, Wayne State ranks 22nd nationally in bench points per game (28.9), 36th in free throw percentage (.760), 41st in free throws per game (14.81), 51st in steals per game (10.8), 52nd in assists per game (15.1), and 56th in field goal percentage (.427).

Individually, Shea Tripp ranks 26th nationally in steals per game (2.81), while ranking 29th in total steals (45). McKenna Ferguson is 67th in free throw percentage (.841).

PACING THE GLIAC
Within the GLIAC and following games on January 23 (16 contests), Wayne State ranks fourth in several shooting categories, including points per game (71.9), field goal percentage (.427), three-point percentage (.327), and free throw percentage (.760). In ball control categories, the Warriors are second with 10.8 steals per game, just behind Ferris State's 11.9 SPG. WSU is fourth in the league with 15.1 assists per game, trailing FSU (18.5), Parkside (16.7), and Grand Valley State (15.9).

Shea Tripp remains the conference leader in both steals (45) and steals per game (2.81). Her teammate Kate McArthur's 36 steals and 2.25 SPG continues to pace behind in second. McArthur is also second in the GLIAC in assists (62) and third in assists per game (3.9) behind FSU's Mallory McCartney (5.8) and UWP's Sheridan Flauger (4.1). Gabi Lutchka is within the top five for a pair of shooting categories. The sophomore paces the GLIAC in three-point percentage (.486), while ranking third in field goal percentage (.556). Becca Fugate appears in the top five for best three-point shooters, as the redshirt senior places third with a .397 three-point percentage.

MILLER JOINS THE FIRST-START CLUB
Sophomore Mackenzie Miller made her first start as a Wayne State Warrior in the 74-69 victory over Saginaw Valley State on January 20th. The forward contributed four points, two assists, two offensive rebounds, a blocked shot, and a steal in 21 minutes of game action. It was Miller's fifth game played at WSU. She made 25 appearances a season ago for Division III Lakeland University, with two starts in a campaign that ended with her being named Region 8 Freshman of the Year by D3Hoops.com.

Miller joined four others that made their first Wayne State starting roles this season, including McKenna Ferguson (November 15 at Cedarville), Annabel Ayrault (November 17 vs. Tiffin), Ally Shagena (November 26 vs. Lawrence Tech), and Gabi Lutchka (December 9 at Michigan Tech).

CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Becca Fugate and Shea Tripp have each been named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week by the league office during the 2023-24 campaign. Fugate received the honor for the week of December 4 after averaging 16.5 points per game in the victories against Edinboro and D'Youville, while Tripp was recognized the following week (December 11) for back-to-back 26-point performances on the road at NMU and MTU. Both achieved Player of the Week for the first time in their careers.

KEEP UP WITH THE ACTION
Every women's basketball GLIAC contest this season (with the exception of the road contest at Purdue Northwest) will be televised on FloSports (flohoops.com) per the conference's agreement with the streaming service. For the contest against Ferris State (Thursday at 5:30 p.m.), Joe Abramson will handle the play-by-play duties. Kevin Brechmacher will handle the women's broadcast for the game against Lake Superior State (Saturday at 1 p.m.). Veteran Tony Ortiz will join Brechmacher as a sideline reporter for the weekend match-up.

In addition, the WSU Department of Athletics has partnered with The PreP for streaming home athletic events for the 2023-24 season. For road GLIAC contests, Wayne State men's basketball play-by-play voice Kevin Brechmacher will provide audio for free through WSUAthletics.com (Warrior All-Access).

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Players Mentioned

#12 Annabel Ayrault: G; 5' 9"; Freshman

#21 McKenna Ferguson: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#4 Becca Fugate: G; 5' 7"; Redshirt Senior

#44 Gabi Lutchka: F; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#30 Kate McArthur: G; 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior

#42 Mackenzie Miller: F; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#14 Ally Shagena: F; 5' 11"; Junior

#23 Shea Tripp: F; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#12 Annabel Ayrault
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: G

#21 McKenna Ferguson
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#4 Becca Fugate
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#44 Gabi Lutchka
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: F

#30 Kate McArthur
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#42 Mackenzie Miller
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: F

#14 Ally Shagena
: 5' 11"; Junior
: F

#23 Shea Tripp
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F