GAME STORYLINES
After falling in back-to-back games for just the third time this season, the Wayne State University women's hoops team roared back into the win column as the Warriors prevailed 76-49 at Davenport.  WSU will play its final two regular-season games at home vs. Ferris State (Thursday at 5:30 PM) and Lake Superior State (Saturday at 1:00 PM).  Wayne State will honor its four seniors prior to Saturday's contest.

SERIES HISTORY
Ferris State holds a 45-40 ledger in the all-time series, but WSU leads 20-18 in Detroit.  FSU has claimed the last three meetings and has won five of the last seven contests.  The Bulldogs triumphed in the previous competition this season 82-65 in Big Rapids on January 4.

The Green and Gold lead 46-42 in the all-time series vs. Lake Superior, including a 29-15 mark at home.  Wayne State has seen success in recent years as the Warriors are winners in nine of the last 10 meetings with six of the wins coming in Detroit.  In January, WSU won 75-48 in Sault Ste. Marie.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Ferris State won twice at home last week defeating Purdue Northwest (118-74) and Parkside (85-76).

Kadyn Blanchard is the leading scorer for the Bulldogs, averaging 17.5 points per contest.  However, the senior has missed the last 14 games.  Mia Riley is contributing  14.9 points per game along with 6.0 rebounds and 83 total steals.  Kenzie Bowers is nabbing 6.3 rebounds each night, while scoring 10.4 PPG.  Mya Hiram and Elle Irwin have been impactful as well with Hiram averaging 13.2 points per game and Irwin totaling 45 triples and 22 blocks.

Fifth-year head coach Kurt Westendorp has led the Bulldogs to a 100-49 ledger.  While at the helm, Westendorp has brought FSU to the NCAA tournament twice.

The Lakers have a 5-21 mark thus far in the 2024-25 campaign and are 2-16 in GLIAC play heading into Thursday's game at Saginaw Valley State.

Grace Bradford leads the way for LSSU, averaging 14.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while totaling 23 blocks, 26 steals, and 56 assists.  Breah Golden is contributing 12.5 points per contests with a team-best 44 three-pointers.

Grace Howrigon has led the Lakers to a 5-21 mark in her inaugural campaign at LSSU.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Wayne State has played the 19th-toughest schedule in Division 2 (366-280, .567), which ranks second in the Midwest Region.  WSU will play opponents that have a combined .451 winning percentage (23-28) over the final week of the regular season.  The combined winning percentage of .558 (389-308) ranks 26th nationally out of over 300 schools.

NATIONAL ATTENTION
Taylor Thompson is 43rd nationally in offensive rebounds with 3.3 per contest, which leads the GLIAC.  As a squad, the Warriors are 30th in assists per game at 15.8.

Shea Tripp ranks 17 among active Division II players in career steals with 227.

TRIPP A FINALIST FOR WOODEN CITIZEN CUP
Senior Forward Shea Tripp was selected as one of three national finalists for the John Wooden Citizen Cup.

Founded by Athletes for a Better World (ABW), the Wooden Cup is unique in that it is open to athletes in all collegiate and Olympic or professional sports.  Nominations are open to every division and conference in college sports.

STRONG WEEK FROM THOMPSON AND TRIPP
Junior forward Taylor Thompson totaled six steals and two blocks in three road games last week, along with a team-best 26 rebounds (8.7 RPG).

Thompson notched a game-high 13 boards (5 offensive, 8 defensive) plus a block and a steal at Roosevelt and totaled four rebounds and one steal at GVSU.

In the victory at Davenport, Thompson contributed nine rebounds (which tied for game-high honors), a game-best four steals and one block.

Senior forward Shea Tripp averaged 19.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in three road contests last week, along with garnering 13 assists and six steals.

Tripp scored a career-high 29 points at Roosevelt on 12-of-16 from the floor, including making her only triple try.  She was 4-of-5 at the charity stripe and dished out three assists.

At GVSU, Tripp recorded 12 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

In the win at Davenport, she totaled 16 points and tied for game-high honors with nine rebounds narrowly missing a double-double.

For the week, she shot 55 percent (23-of-42) from the field, including 2-of-3 (67 percent) from long distance.

LAST GAMES RECAP
The Warriors split their games at #3-Grand Valley State and Davenport as WSU fell 85-67 to the Lakers before defeating the Panthers 76-49.

Wayne State trailed 24-13 with just under one minute to play in the first quarter at GVSU.  Gabi Lutchka nailed a triple that ignited a 9-3 spurt for the Green and Gold that included three points from Annabel Ayrault and six from Lutchka.  WSU entered the second period down by five (27-22).

GVSU quickly pushed its lead to 13 scoring 10 of the first 12 points in the second quarter.  Eight consecutive points from the visitors cut the deficit to five (37-32).  The Lakers tallied nine of the final 16 points to lead 46-39 at intermission.

Grand Valley State continued to cause turnovers and held WSU to just 28 points in the third and fourth quarters combined,.

Wayne State was 25-of-54 from the floor (46 percent) including 11-of-22 from deep (50 percent).  GVSU made 53 percent of its attempts (32-of-60) and were 13-of-28 from behind the line (46 percent).

Lutchka (17), McKenna Ferguson (15) and Shea Tripp (12) all reached double-digit scoring with Tripp leading the way in rebounds with six and assists with seven.

The contest with Davenport was tied twice early on (2-2, 4-4) before the Warriors tallied the next four points.  DU responded with five consecutive points for a 9-8 lead with 4:10 left in the opening period.  Wayne State saw a 12-3 scoring advantage over the final 250 seconds and captured a lead that they would not relinquish.

After a Panther foul shot made it 20-13, Wayne State recorded the next seven points, including five by Tripp, to grab a 27-13 lead.  An Ally Shagena bucket ignited a 9-2 spurt by the Warriors for a 36-18 advantage.

Wayne State out-paced Davenport 38-28 over the final 20 minutes of action to secure the road victory.

Tripp led the charge with 16 points and nine boards, while Alyssa Leister (14) and Ferguson (10) tallied double figures as well.  Taylor Thompson added nine rebounds and five points.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
The NCAA released its 10 teams from each region that are currently "Under Consideration" for regional rankings.  Wayne State, along with GLIAC rivals Ferris State, Grand Valley State, Northern Michigan, and Parkside all appeared on the list.  The next NCAA Regional Rankings will be released on Wednesday, Feb. 26.