Women's Basketball 2/7/2024 3:47:00 PM Matthew Jurek, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Women's Basketball to Welcome Grand Valley State and Davenport to Detroit

The Warriors will play four of their next six contests on home court.

GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State returns to Detroit after a successful 2-0 road trip last week at Parkside and Purdue Northwest. The Warriors will host #4-Grand Valley State on Thursday, February 8, at 5:30 p.m., before welcoming Davenport to the Motor City on Saturday, February 10, at 1 p.m.

SERIES HISTORY
Grand Valley State extended its winning streak against Wayne State to 19 following an 81-48 GVSU victory in the first meeting of the season on January 13. The Lakers lead the all-time season series 61-26 in the 87 match-ups between the two schools. WSU's last triumph over Grand Valley State was an 89-63 win over the then No. 17-ranked GVSU on January 2, 2015, inside the Matthaei. The Green and Gold is 17-24 all-time at home against its opponents from Allendale.

WSU has a 9-4 advantage in the all-time season series against Davenport, with all 13 games being league contests. The Warriors and Panthers went to overtime earlier this campaign for the second time in the last three meetings, with the Green and Gold emerging victorious 85-81 in Grand Rapids. That victory gave Wayne State seven wins in the last 10 games vs. DU and four in the past five, with the lone defeat being the other OT affair (75-65) between the two schools on January 14, 2023.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Grand Valley State has won its last three games to improve to 18-2 on the season. GVSU's only two losses have been to Ferris State and Division I Ohio State, both on the road. The Lakers are one of the best defensive teams in the nation, as they rank second behind Saint Rose in points allowed per game (47.7) and fourth behind Saint Rose, Chestnut Hill, and Holy Family in field goal percentage allowed (.335). GVSU wins many of its game by virtue of its work on the glass. The Lakers' +14-rebounding margin (43.2 for to 29.2 against) is the best in Division II.

GVSU's routine starting five (Hadley Miller, Ellie Droste, Nicole Kamin, Rylie Bisballe, and Abrie Cabana) have all started at least 18 of the Lakers' 20 games this season. Droste (11.7 PPG) and Bisballe (10.6 PPG) average in double figures, while six other Grand Valley State players average six or more points per contest. Three have made more than 70 field goals, including redshirt sophomore center Megan Crow, who leads the GLIAC with a .632 field goal percentage. Cabana (38 3-PT) and Droste (30 3-PT) are the primary targets from beyond the arc. A hallmark of GVSU has been its distribution in nearly every ball control category. Eight Lakers have 50+ rebounds, six have 30+ assists, five have 20+ steals, and three have 10+ blocks.

Mike Williams is the head coach of Grand Valley State in his ninth season. He has a 227-46 (.832) overall record and a 142-26 (.845) ledger in the GLIAC.

Davenport has lost its last four games entering Thursday's contest at Saginaw Valley State with a 3-17 mark. The Panthers are 1-9 in the conference with a victory at Lake Superior State on January 20. DU averages 56.0 points per game on offense and allows 70.0 PPG on defense.

Similar to Grand Valley State, DU's routine starting five (Alexa Kolnitys, Ellie Toney, Isabel Lindo, Lillee Gustafson, and Mary Liedel) have all started at least 18 of the team's 20 games played. The key player to watch for the Panthers is Gustafson, who averages 11.7 points per game and is third in the GLIAC with 7.9 rebounds per contest. The junior center also leads her squad in field goals made (88), field goal percentage (.458), free throws made (57), and blocked shots (12). Kolnitys, a sophomore guard, leads DU in assists (45) and steals (33). Lindo (24), Toney (21), and senior Makenna Bryant (20) have all made 20+ shots from beyond the arc.

The head coach of Davenport is Shonda Sanders. The Panthers are 10-38 (.208) overall and 2-26 (.071) in the GLIAC under the second-year coach. Her staff includes assistant coach Sophia Karasinski, who played for Wayne State as a graduate student during the 2022-23 season.

LAST WEEKEND RECAP
Wayne State banked two key victories in a successful road trip to Parkside and Purdue Northwest last week. After allowing 95 points in their first meeting, the Warriors wore down the Rangers in limiting UWP to 61 points inside De Simone Arena last Thursday. WSU led 17-16 after 10 minutes, before a second quarter that saw six lead changes and four ties. Parkside led for just 43 seconds in the second as the Warriors responded each made UWP basket with one of their own. Wayne State started the third period with seven straight points to extend its lead to 11 (43-32), but UWP closed the 10-minute span with nine consecutive points. Parkside stayed relatively close the entire second half, however fell short of tying the game. That was largely due to the work of Gabi Lutchka in the final quarter, as she scored all 12 of WSU's points in the period until the final minute of the contest. Lutchka's effort ended with 20 points and a career-best 11 rebounds for a double-double, which were both also game highs. Shea Tripp fell one point short of the same feat with nine points and 10 boards.

Wayne State concluded the weekend with a 67-55 triumph at Purdue Northwest on Saturday to extend its winning streak to three games. WSU led 22-20 after 10 minutes in a period which saw four ties, five lead changes, and both teams making eight field goals, including three triples. PNW tallied the final five points of the second quarter to pull within five (35-30) at intermission. Buckets from Tripp and Lutchka pushed the guests' advantage to nine (39-30) early in the second half, and the Green and Gold's lead was never fewer than six (39-33, 41-35, and 43-37) during the third quarter. The Pride had an 11-2 run in the fourth quarter to cut its deficit to five (56-51) with 6:53 remaining, but would not come any closer as WSU pulled away for a 12-point victory. Tripp would not be denied a double-double as she posted 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for her fourth such performance of the campaign. McKenna Ferguson contributed a team-best 14 points.

CONFERENCE STANDINGS UPDATE
Following two strong road wins, the Warriors currently sit in a logjam for third in the GLIAC standings in 2023-24. WSU, Northern Michigan, and Parkside all have matching 7-4 league ledgers through 11 conference contests, which trail behind Ferris State (10-1) and Grand Valley State (9-1). The top eight out of 10 programs qualify for the GLIAC Tournament, while the top four seeds host a quarterfinal match-up. Wayne State will look to secure a home postseason game during the final seven regular-season games. The GLIAC Tournament is slated for Wednesday, March 6, through Sunday, March 10.

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 (66-61) over Parkside on February 1 was the fourth such contest in conference action decided by five points or fewer, and the Green and Gold have been victorious in all four. The Warriors have an average margin of victory of 15.3 in its 14 triumphs this season over Malone, Cedarville, Tiffin, Lawrence Tech, Edinboro, D'Youville, Michigan Tech, Findlay, PNW (twice), UWP, DU, SVSU, and LSSU.

NATIONAL ATTENTION
Through games on February 6, Wayne State ranks 27th out of 291 programs in bench points per game (27.4), 42nd in free throw percentage (.757), 46th in field goal percentage (.432), and 49th in both assists per game (15.0) and steals per game (10.8). Individually, Shea Tripp ranks 25th in the nation in steals (55) and 29th in steals per game (2.75). McKenna Ferguson is 58th in free throw percentage (.841).

PACING THE GLIAC
Within the GLIAC and following games on February 6 (20 contests), Wayne State ranks fourth in a trio of categories, including points per game (70.8), field goal percentage (.432), and free throw percentage (.757). The Warriors are also fifth in three-point percentage (.3276 to Parkside's .3283). In ball control categories, WSU continues to be second behind Ferris State in steals per game, garnering 10.8 SPG to FSU's 11.4. The Green and Gold are fourth behind FSU, UWP, and GVSU with 15.0 assists per contest.

Shea Tripp remains the conference leader in both steals (55) and steals per game (2.75), while also appearing fifth with 6.8 rebounds per game. Kate McArthur places second in assists (79) and third in assists per game (4.0). Gabi Lutchka's sharp shooting has the sophomore ahead of all GLIAC players in three-point percentage (.417), while ranking fifth in field goal percentage (.545). Becca Fugate is third behind Lutchka and FSU's Mallory McCartney in three-point shooting (.413). McKenna Ferguson is fifth in free throw percentage (.841).

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 20 vs. Saginaw Valley State. She passed Brittany Streetman's 118 GP between 2012 and 2016 for most all-time at Wayne State.

KEEP UP WITH THE ACTION
Every women's basketball GLIAC contest for the remainder of the season will be televised on FloSports (flohoops.com) per the conference's agreement with the streaming service. For the contest against Grand Valley State (Thursday at 5:30 p.m.), Joe Abramson will handle the play-by-play duties. Brady Beedon will handle the women's broadcast for the game vs. Davenport (Saturday at 1 p.m.). Veteran Tony Ortiz will join Beedon 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

#34 Sophia Karasinski: G; 5' 9"; Graduate Student

#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

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

Players Mentioned

#34 Sophia Karasinski
: 5' 9"; Graduate Student
: 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

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