DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (17-10 overall, 12-7 GLIAC) triumphed 68-53 over Ferris State University (19-9 overall, 13-6 GLIAC) Thursday afternoon.  The 53 points are the lowest that WSU has held an FSU team to since a 48-47 victory in 2021.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
Taylor Thompson (Grand Blanc, Mich.) found the bottom of the net to open the contest's scoring.  The squads traded baskets back-and-forth, finding themselves tied at nine points each with 5:18 remaining in the first period.  Thompson connected on a lay-in to put the Warriors ahead 11-9.  Both teams ran into an offensive dry spell as only one more point was scored for the remainder of the quarter with WSU leading 12-9 after the first 10 minutes of action.

SECOND QUARTER
Shea Tripp (Jackson, Mich. / Michigan Center) drained a long-range jumper to push Wayne State's lead to six (15-9).  Mya Hiram (FSU) responded with a jumper to bring the Bulldogs within four, but another Tripp bucket extended the Green and Gold lead to six (17-11).  Back-to-back triples along with a free throw gave Ferris State its first lead since the 8:51 mark in the opening quarter (4-2) as the visitors jumped on top 18-17.  The FSU advantage was short lived however, as just under one minute later Koko Sylvester (Toledo, Ohio / Start) made good on a lay-up that ignited a 9-3 spurt for the Warriors to close the second stanza.

THIRD QUARTER
Thompson began the scoring in the second half as the junior made a jumper on the team's opening possession.  Hiram made her way to the charity stripe, knocking down both of her attempts and bringing FSU back within five (28-23), but a Gabi Lutchka (Grass Lake, Mich.) basket on the ensuing trip down the floor pushed the WSU lead back to seven.  Alyssa Leister (St. Louis, Mich. / Alma) splashed a three to put Wayne State ahead by 10 before Mia Riley made a mid-range jumper (33-25).  Five straight Warrior points made the WSU lead 13 (38-25) with just over six minutes to play in the third.  Ferris State finished the third period strong, out-scoring the Green and Gold 14-8 and trailing by seven with 10 minutes remaining.

FOURTH QUARTER
The Green and Gold scored the first six points of the fourth quarter, jumping out to a 52-39 lead with just under nine minutes remaining. Emma Schierbeek (FSU) connected on two triples that were sandwiched around a Tripp lay-in (54-45).  Wayne State went on a 12-4 surge for the next 4:02, leading 66-49 with two minutes remaining.  FSU scored four of the final six points, with Wayne State earning the victory.

TEAM STATS
From the floor, Wayne State made 50 percent of its attempts (28-of-56), while the Bulldogs made just 31.1 percent of their shots (19-of-61).  From deep, both squads connected on 28.6 percent of attempts as WSU was 6-of-21 and FSU was 8-of-28.  The Warriors out-rebounded the guests 40-34 and had 11 more assists (22-11).  The Green and Gold led for 34:31 of the contest.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Shea Tripp led Wayne State in scoring, tallying 15 points on 6-of-9 from the field making both of her attempts from the line.  Koko Sylvester notched a career-high of 13 points while shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor including a long-range jumper.  The freshman added a team-high four steals and two blocks, all in 16 minutes of action.  Tripp and Taylor Thompson both grabbed eight boards, while Tripp, Alyssa Leister, and Gabi Lutchka all handed out five assists.

LEADING THE BULLDOGS
Kenzie bowers was the lone FSU student-athlete to reach double-digit scoring, as she totaled 13 points while hauling in eight rebounds.  Mya Hiram and Mia Riley both dished out three dimes.

UP NEXT
The Wayne State women's hoops squad will return to the floor on Saturday, March 1, as the team will host Lake Superior State University with tip-off slated for 1:00 PM in the WSU Fieldhouse.  The Warriors will honor their four seniors, Alyssa Leister, ZaMaria Polk (Detroit, Mich. / Mumford [Pensacola State / Cleveland State]), Ally Shagena (Fort Gratiot, Mich. / Port Huron Northern), and Shea Tripp before the start of the game.