DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (21-3, 17-3 GLIAC) hosted Malone (8-16, 6-14 GLIAC) on Thursday night. WSU pulled away late for the 81-74 victory. With the win the Warriors clinch a home playoff game on March 4 at 7 PM. WSU will look to secure second place and the South Division title with one more win in its final two games.

In addition, head coach Carrie Lohr moves into sole possession for second place all-time with 78 victories.

Shareta Brown (Pontiac, Mich. / Grand Blanc) gave WSU an 8-5 lead with a layup at the 16:15 mark. Ondrea Hughes (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Loy Norrix) extended the home lead with a layup before Brittany Streetman (Warren, Mich. / Lincoln) connected from behind the arc to put the Warriors on top, 17-10, with 12:54 left before halftime.

An 8-0 run from the Pioneers gave the visitors an 18-17 lead at the 10:33 mark. A jumper from Bri Libertore kept Malone ahead, 25-22, at the eight-minute mark. The momentum stayed with the Pioneers the rest of the first half. 

A three-point play from Destiny Lavita-Stephens (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Goodrich) cut the deficit to two, 29-27, with 5:48 left to play before intermission. Gabby Machado (Pontiac, Mich. / Northern) hit two free throws to tie the game at 29-29. Kristen Long (Corunna, Mich. / Durand) gave WSU a lead, 31-29, at the five-minute mark.

Kristen Massey responded with a triple to put MU back on top, 34-31. The Pioneers led 37-33 at halftime powered by nine points from Rachel Goddard. Lavita-Stephens and Long led the Green & Gold with seven points each.

Five early points in the second stanza from Hughes brought WSU within two at 42-40 at the 17:50 mark. Just before the 16-minute media timeout Goddard put Malone up five, 49-44, with her second three-pointer of the contest.

Back-to-back triples from Hughes and Shannon Wilson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills) cut the Malone lead to one, 55-54, at the 12:41 mark. Hughes gave WSU its first lead, 57-55, since the five-minute mark of the first half with a triple at the 11:22 mark.

The Pioneers answered immediately and led until the 5:16 mark when a three-point play from Brown gave the Warriors a 65-64 advantage. A banked-in trey from Goddard at the 3:27 mark trimmed the deficit to to just one 70-69.

An intentional foul called on Malone at the 2:54 mark really swung the momentum to WSU as Brown made three free throws in a four-second span as a result to extend the lead to 75-69. She missed the fourth attempt for the Warriors first miss at the charity stripe for the game.

Wayne State controlled the final two minutes to collect its 21st win of the season.

Brown recorded her 20th double-double of the season with 22 points and 13 rebounds to go with her six assists and five steals. Hughes was solid on her Senior Night and chipped in 15 points.

Goddard led all scorers with 31 points, which is a season-high for an opponent.

WSU will travel to Walsh on Saturday for a 1 p.m. clash.