DETROIT --  The Wayne State University women's basketball team (14-5, 9-2 GLIAC) defeated Purdue University Northwest (3-16, 1-10 GLIAC) 89-68 in its return to the WSU Fieldhouse on Thursday.  Taylor Thompson (Grand Blanc, Mich.) matched her highest scoring output of her career, with 33 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
Thompson began the game's scoring, converting on an and-one for a 3-0 lead.  A McKenna Ferguson (Grandville, Mich. / Byron Center) lay-up sandwiched around a PNW free throw and basket made it 5-3.  A 10-3 scoring spurt for the Warriors pushed the host's advantage to 11 (15-6) at the 5:57 mark.  An 8-2 surge for the Pride shortened the gap to three points (17-14) with 1:57 remaining in the opening frame.  The Green and Gold scored four of the final six points for a 21-16 advantage after 10 minutes of action.

SECOND QUARTER
Riley Milausnic of PNW splashed a triple to reel within two, but eight-straight points for Wayne State extended the margin to 10 points (29-19).  Back-to-back Ciara Sims (PNW) buckets made it 29-23.  Nine points each way brought the score to 38-32 in favor of WSU with 1:52 left until the haftime intermission.  A Koko Sylvester (Toledo, Ohio / Start) and-one preceded a PNW long-range jumper, as Wayne State held a 41-35 advantage after two periods.

THIRD QUARTER
Jaci Tubergen (Hudsonville, Mich. [Bowling Green]) found Ferguson a pair of times for WSU's first two buckets of the third frame (45-35).  Alyssa Cole (PNW) knocked down a triple, but Karrington Gordon (Lincoln Park, Mich. / [Central Michigan]) immediately responded with a long ball of her own on the ensuing Warrior possession.  A 10-5 Green and Gold run that included eight straight points made it 58-43.  The Pride slightly edged the hosts for the remainder of the stanza, out-pacing WSU 8-7.  Wayne State led 65-52 with one quarter to play.

FOURTH QUARTER
After the Pride posted the first two points of the quarter, WSU rattled off five straight, leading 70-53.  Cameryn Phillips (PNW) slowed the run with a long-range jumper, but nine-consecutive points for the hosts advanced the margin to 79-56.  Purdue Nothwest closed the game with a 12-10 scoring advantage, as Wayne State posted the 89-68 home victory.

TEAM STATISTICS
WSU made 50 percent of its shots (32-of-64), while the Pride connected on 44 percent of attempts (27-of-61).  From deep, the Warriors shot nearly 36 percent (5-of-14) compared to 38 percent from PNW (9-of-24).  The largest difference cam at the charity stripe, as the Green and Gold made 20-of-23 attempts and Purdue Northwest converted 5-of-7.  Wayne State collected 40 rebounds and PNW grabbed 25

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Thompson matched a career-high 33 points (12-of-19 FG, 1-of-3 3PT, 8-of-11 FT) and nearly posted a triple-double with 10 rebounds and seven assists (both game bests).  Ferguson, Tubergen, and DeMaya Asberry (Warren, Mich. / Cousino) each had a pair of steals.  Ferguson scored 15 points, while Sylvester posted a season-high 10 points.

LEADING THE PRIDE
Ciara Sims tallied a team-high 23 points coming off the bench.  Alyssa Cole added 14 points, a squad-high six rebounds, and had two steals.  Cameryn Phillips notched 11 points and led the team is helpers with six.

UP NEXT
The Green and Gold will hit the road once more, this time heading to Big Rapids, Mich., to face No. 21-ranked Ferris State University at 1:00 PM in Jim WInk Arena.