ALLENDALE, Mich, -- The No. 4-seeded Wayne State University women's basketball team (24-7 overall) defeated No. 5-seeded Northern Michigan University (25-8 overall) 77-61 in the opening round of the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament on Friday at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

The win marks the 24th of the campaign, which is the most in a single season in program history.  In addition, it is the second-consecutive year in which WSU has won an NCAA Tournament contest, defeating Lewis University in the first round a year ago.  Head coach Carrie Lohr holds a 7-5 overall record in the big dance, with a 5-1 ledger in the opening round.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
It was a slow start offensively for both squads, as the game was knotted at four points apiece at the 5:36 mark.  The Warriors ripped a 10-5 scoring run to take a 14-9 advantage.  NMU slowed WSU with a triple, but a pair of Karrington Gordon (Lincoln Park, Mich. [Central Michigan]) free throws made it 16-12 after 10 minutes.

SECOND QUARTER
Northern Michigan's Sarah Newcomer splashed a long-range jumper to pull the Wildcats within one, but Jaci Tubergen (Hudsonville, Mich. [Bowling Green State]) connected from deep on the ensuing possession, prompting a 10-4 WSU spurt (26-19).  NMU struck back with nine-straight points to nab its first lead of the game, 28-26.  McKenna Ferguson (Grandville, Mich. / Byron Center) connected on a long ball to give the Warriors the lead, but a Faith Walder (NMU) lay-in put the Wildcats ahead 30-29 after the first two quarters.

THIRD QUARTER
NMU extended its advantage to three after Alyssa Hill made good on a jumper.  Gabi Lutchka (Grass Lake, Mich.) knocked down a pair of free throws to pull within one point (32-21), but a triple by Northern Michigan's CJ Romero made it 35-31.  An 8-3 WSU run put the Warriors on top 39-38, but a pair of Walder free throws regained the lead for the Wildcats.  Five points for WSU and six for NMU made it 46-44 in favor of Northern Michigan with 2:39 left in the quarter.  The Warriors tallied nine of the final 11 points, leading 53-48 entering the final quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER
Sarah Newcomer drilled a shot to bring the Wildcats within two (53-51), but an and-one from freshman AJ Rickli (Mattawan, Mich. / Paw Paw) made it 56-51.  The Warriors out-paced Northern Michigan 21-10 to close the game, prevailing 77-61.

TEAM STATISTICS
Wayne State made 8-of-19 from deep (42 percent), while holding Northern Michigan to 6-of-29 (21 percent).  The Warriors were 40 percent from the floor (26-of-65), while the Wildcats made 41 percent of attempts (25-of-61).  WSU slightly edged NMU in the rebounding battle, snaring 38 to Northern Michigan's 37.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Ferguson led all scorers with 21 points (6-of-16 FG, 1-of-2 3PT, 8-of-8 FT), and corralled a game-best eight steals.  The eight steals mark the most in a game for WSU since January 15, 2009, when Jasmine McCall posted eight at Saginaw Valley State University.  Tubergen added 15 points, seven boards, and a trio of assists.  Lutchka connected on 4-of-8 triples en route to a 14-point performance, while collecting seven rebounds.  Taylor Thompson (Grand Blanc, Mich.) dished out a game-leading six assists.  Rickli contributed eight points and five rebounds (four offensive) in just over 11 minutes of action.


LEADING THE WILDCATS
GLIAC Sixth Woman of the Year Sydney Whitehouse led NMU with 15 points (7-of-11 FG, 1-of-2 FG) and nine rebounds.  Newcomer tallied 11 points, while Walder notched 10.  Alyssa Hill and CJ Romero each had three assists.  

UP NEXT
The fourth-seeded Warriors will face top-seeded Grand Valley State tomorrow, March 14, in the NCAA Round of 32 at 7:30 PM.