Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (7-4 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) defeated Lake Superior State University (4-7 overall, 1-2 GLIAC) 75-48, marking the first win of the 2025 portion of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
Lake Superior State began the game's scoring, as Breah Golden knocked down a floater.  A McKenna Ferguson (Grandville, Mich. / Byron Center) bucket put the Green and Gold on the board, before LSSU's CeCe Hacker splashed a three to reclaim its early lead (5-2).  Shea Tripp (Jackson, Mich. / Michigan Center) was able to draw contact while driving on a lay-up, knocking down the shot and earning a trip to the foul line for an attempt at a three-point play.  Tripp connected on her free throw, tying the contest at five points apiece.

Wayne State took its first lead of the game, as Ferguson found her way to the rim for a lay-up.  Another Golden basket tied the score at seven all, before a Tripp lay-up started a 15-4 scoring run for WSU, as the Warriors closed the opening quarter with a 22-11 advantage.

SECOND QUARTER
A quick LSSU three-pointer from Taylor Stacy cut the Wayne State lead to single digits (22-14), before a Ferguson lay-up and triple along with a Taylor Thompson (Grand Blanc, Mich.) bucket pushed the WSU lead to 15 (29-14) with just under eight minutes remaining in the period.  At the 6:48 mark, Golden connected on a long-range jumper in what would be the last points for the Lakers before a dry-spell that lasted over six minutes.  Within the LSSU drought, the Warriors scored 16 unanswered points from Ferguson, Tripp, Thompson, Gabi Lutchka (Grass Lake, Mich.), and Jaci Tubergen (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville [Bowling Green]).  Taylor Clarey stopped the WSU barrage, making a lay-up with eight seconds remaining in the half.  The Green and Gold entered the halftime break with a 45-19 lead, and three student-athletes with double-digit points, as Ferguson (14), Tripp (14), and Thompson (10) all eclipsed that mark.

THIRD QUARTER
The two squads exchanged a pair of baskets to open the third stanza with WSU holding a 50-24 advantage.  Despite a fast start, both teams combined for 18 points for the final 7:36 of the period (10 for Lake Superior State and eight for Wayne State).  Following a Mackenzie Miller (Schoolcraft, Mich. / Schoolcraft [Lakeland University]) lay-up with 2:39 left, neither team found the bottom of the net for the remainder of the quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER
Ally Shagena (Fort Gratiot, Mich. / Port Huron Northern) made her first three-pointer of the campaign from a Koko Sylvester (Toledo, Ohio / Start) assist to begin the fourth quarter.  Both squads scored 14 more points to finish the contest, with WSU securing the 75-48 road victory.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State went 29-of-62 from the field (46.8 percent), including 9-of-20 from three.  The Lakers made 19-of-58 shots (32.8 percent) and connected on 26.7 percent (8-of-30) from behind the arc.  The Warriors out-rebounded LSSU 46-30 and had 25 assists to Lake Superior State's 14.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Shea Tripp finished with a game-high 21 points, five assists, and four steals while being +30 when on the floor.  Taylor Thompson earned another double-double, her fifth of the season, scoring 16 points and grabbing a game-best 13 rebounds, while dishing out four assists.  McKenna Ferguson made six of her eight shot attempts, including three of four from deep for 17 points with five boards and four assists.  Gabi Lutchka assisted on five shots and hauled in five rebounds.

LEADING THE LAKERS
Breah Golden tallied a team-high 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting.  Grace Bradford had six points, six rebounds, and five assists.  Malia Thelen poked the ball away three times, while adding four points and two assists.

UP NEXT
The Wayne State University women's hoops squad will finish its road trip by traveling to Big Rapids, Mich., to face the Ferris State Bulldogs on Saturday, January 4, with tip-off slated for 1:00 PM.