DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (5-3 overall, 2-0 GLIAC) defeated No. 18-ranked Ferris State University (7-2 overall, 1-1 GLIAC) 84-71 at home on Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
After FSU tallied the game's first two points, the Warriors notched the ensuing nine to take a 9-2 advantage with just under 7:00 remaining in the opening frame.  A Bulldog triple and lay-up sandwiched around an Annabel Ayrault (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) lay-in made it 11-7 in favor of the hosts.  A pair of baskets, one each way, pushed the score to 13-9.  Gabi Lutchka (Grass Lake, Mich.) connected on one-of-two shots from the charity stripe to make the margin five, before FSU's Elle Erwin splashed a triple to cut the lead to two (14-12) with 1:43 left in the first quarter.

McKenna Ferguson (Grandville, Mich. / Byron Center) responded with a long-range jumper of her own, but five straight points for Ferris State knotted the game a 17 points apiece after the first 10 minutes of action.

SECOND QUARTER
Once more, Ferris State opened the quarter's scoring with a converted and-one by Charlotte Miller.  Ayrault responded by draining one-of-two from the foul line but another old-fashioned three-point play for the Bulldogs gave the guests a 23-18 advantage with 8:52 remaining in the half.  Lay-ins by Mackenzie Miller (Schoolcraft, Mich. [Lakeland University]) and Karrington Gordon (Lincoln Park, Mich. [Central Michigan]) cut the FSU advantage to one, but triples by Emma Schierbeek and Kadyn Blanchard pushed the margin to seven points (29-22).  

FSU caught fire with a 10-2 scoring run to make it a 15-point game (39-24), but Wayne State tallied eight consecutive points to close the quarter, with the Bulldogs leading 39-32 at the intermission.

THIRD QUARTER
Lay-ups from Gordon and Ferguson brought the Green and Gold within three points before a Mya Hiram jumper extended the deficit back to five (41-36) at the 8:42 mark.  A Jaci Tubergen (Hudsonville, Mich. [Bowling Green]) lay-up and Taylor Thompson (Grand Blanc, Mich.) free throw along with a pair of free throws for FSU made it 43-39.  

The Warriors re-claimed the lead after a Lutchka long-range jumper and a Gordon steal and fast-break bucket.  A Lutchka free throw sandwiched by a lay-up and triple made it 48-45 in favor of FSU.  Wayne State finished the quarter with a 13-6 run to end the third period, holding Ferris State without a field goal for the final 3:50 of the frame.  Ferguson ignited the spurt with seven consecutive points, which put the Warriors in front 52-48.  Each team scored six points after Ferguson's outburst.

FOURTH QUARTER
The Green and Gold pushed the score to 65-54 after tallying the first seven points of the quarter.  FSU's Mia Riley connected on a three pointer to bring the guests within eight points (65-57), but Emily Homan (Haslett, Mich.) put a jumper through the net to make it a double-digit lead for WSU (67-57).  

The final six minutes of the game were back-and-forth, with Wayne State out-pacing FSU 17-14, including seven free throws for the Warriors, and six for the Bulldogs.

WSU's strength of schedule (SOS) heading into the FSU match-up was ranked No. 16 in the country with a .690 opponent winning percentage.  After today's competition, the Warriors SOS is now .732 (41-15), which includes a 2-2 mark against ranked teams/receiving votes - loss to #3-Texas Woman's and now #25 Malone, along with victories over No. 6 Ashland and No. 18 Ferris State.

TEAM STATISTICS
Wayne State made over half of its shots from the field for the first time this season (30-58, 52 percent), while holding FSU to 33 percent (21-of-64) from the floor.  The hosts made 41 percent of its triples (7-of-17) to Ferris State's 31 percent (11-of-36).  On the boards, the Bulldogs hauled in 42 rebounds that included 20 on the offensive end, while the Green and Gold nabbed 32.  

LEADING THE WARRIORS
McKenna Ferguson led all scorer's with a career-high 32 points on 10-of-12 from the floor, while knocking down four triples, draining 8-of-9 free throws and tallying four steals.  Gabi Lutchka added a season-best 20 points with five rebounds.  Taylor Thompson led the squad in rebounds with eight.  Jaci Tubergen had a game-high six helpers.

LEADING THE BULLDOGS
Mia Riley led FSU with 29 points and three steals.  Mya Hiram had a game-high 12 rebounds, while notching eight points.  Elle Irwin dished out a team-best four assists and grabbed five boards.

UP NEXT 
The Warriors will next be in action on Tuesday, December 9, at Tiffin University for a 5:30 PM start in the Gillmor Student Center.