Women's Basketball 12/17/2019 2:30:00 PM Lauren Bryne, Sports Information Graduate Intern

Women's Basketball to Play Two Games Before the New Year

The Warriors will travel to Fairmont State on Wednesday and host Cedarville on Saturday.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (6-3 overall) will conclude 2019 with a 2:00 p.m. game at Fairmont State (6-5 overall) on Wednesday, followed by a home game against Cedarville (9-2 overall) on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

STORYLINES
Wayne State looks to snap its two-game losing streak at Fairmont State on Wednesday, with tip-off scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The Warriors will host Cedarville on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in their final contest of 2019.

THE SERIES
WSU is undefeated (4-0) in the all-time series against the Fighting Falcons, which began in 1985. The teams last met on December 30, 2018, when the Green and Gold notched a 72-65 home court victory over FSU.

Wayne State leads 2-0 in the all-time series versus Cedarville. The Warriors won 87-78 at CU in December of 2015. WSU then won, 77-59, against the Yellow Jackets at home in December of 2016.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Fairmont State, a member of the Mountain East Conference, has an overall record of 6-5, including a 4-2 mark in league contests. In their previous game on Sunday, the Fighting Falcons upended Glenville State, 101-87.

Junior guard Sierra Kotchman leads Fairmont State in scoring at 20.3 PPG. Three other players average in double digits including junior Kamrin Weimer (15.8 PPG), and seniors Rachel Laskody (15.1 PPG) and Brooke Kurucz (13.1 PPG). Laskody is the team's top rebounding player, averaging 9.2 boards per game.

Cedarville went on an eight-game winning streak after dropping its first contest of the season at #8-Ashland (97-83) on Nov. 8th. The run was snapped on Dec. 14th, however, losing 74-51 at Kentucky Wesleyan. In its previous contest on Monday, the Yellow Jackets tallied a 64-43 win at Trevecca. CU will host Wilberforce on Thursday, before traveling to Detroit.

Senior Abby Wolford (13.5 PPG) and junior Ashlyn Huffman (11.5 PPG) both average in double digits for CU. Huffman averages 5.5 assists per game, with Wolford averaging 1.9 steals per contest.

LAST GAME RECAP
The Warriors concluded 2019 GLIAC play with a 79-54 setback at fourth-ranked Ashland University on Dec. 14th. Wayne State was held to just 30 percent shooting on 20-of-66, including just 13 percent (2-of-15) from three-point range. WSU was only 12-of-22 (55 percent) from the foul line, and was out-rebounded 50-36. The Warriors forced Ashland into a season-high 23 turnovers. Senior Nastassja Chambers scored a team-best 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. Classmate Sadia Johnson tallied 15 points, while sophomore Grace George contributed 12 points. Sophomore Sam Cherney grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

300 COLLEGIATE VICTORIES
Head coach Carrie Lohr recorded her 300th collegiate victory with the win against Central State on Nov. 13th. Lohr tallied 166 wins in her nine years of coaching at St. Clair County Community College (2002-11), before leading the Warriors to 138 victories since 2011.

Lohr became WSU's all-time winningest coach when last year's squad recorded a 76-67 win at Purdue Northwest on January 10, 2019. Lohr is the only coach with five consecutive double-digit win totals in program history. She was also the fastest to reach the century mark.

NEW FACES
The 2019-20 campaign features four new faces on this season's 14-player roster. Joining the Warriors this year are freshmen Rebecca Fugate (5-7 guard) and Mercedes Wagner (6-1 center), along with transfers Ariel Bethea (5-9 guard from Owens CC) and Kara Wilson (5-8 guard from Illinois-Chicago).

TABBED FOR FOURTH
Wayne State was voted fourth in the GLIAC South Division Preseason Coaches Poll. Grand Valley State was predicted to win the South Division with 11 first-place votes and 61 points, followed by Ashland (1 FPV - 51 points), Northwood (38 points), WSU (30 points), Davenport (20 points) and Saginaw Valley State (16 points).

In the North Division, Michigan Tech earned eight first-place votes and 58 points. Trailing the Huskies were Northern Michigan (4 FPV - 53 points), Ferris State (40 points), Wisconsin-Parkside (32 points), Lake Superior State (19 points) and Purdue Northwest (14 points).

PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Senior guard Nastassja Chambers was named to the All-GLIAC South Division Preseason Team.

Chambers, who is on pace to become the third 1,000-point scorer in school history to average in double figures all four seasons, joining Monique Johnson (1988-93) and Delonda Little (1991-95), moved into 10th place in career scoring at WSU after scoring 18 points at Ashland on Dec. 14th.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Three players have recorded their first career double-doubles this season, including sophomores Sam Cherney and Grace George, and junior Tori Perez.

George has tallied two double-doubles thus far. Her first was vs. Tiffin (11/26) with 11 points and 11 rebounds and her second was at Ferris State (12/5) with 18 points and a career-high 12 boards.

Cherney and Perez each have one double-double. Cherney notched hers against Central State (11/13) with 10 points and a season-best 11 rebounds, while Perez earned her double-double versus Tiffin (11/26) with a career-high 12 points and 10 boards.

BEYOND THE ARC
Senior co-captain Alex Matus became the 13th player in Wayne State history with 100 made three-pointers vs. Wright State-Lake on Nov. 21, 2019. Matus is currently 12th in three-point field goals made (103) and 14th in three-point field goal percentage (.331 / 103-of-311 - min. 50 made).

GLIAC RANKINGS
Senior Nastassja Chambers is currently second in the conference with a .912 free throw percentage (31-of-34) while classmate Sadia Johnson ranks seventh (.825 // 33-of-40).

Sophomore Sam Cherney holds the second spot in blocks per game (2.2), while ranking third in rebounding average (9.1 RPG). Cherney is also tied-for-first in offensive rebounds (32). Classmate Grace George is fourth in rebounding at 8.0 boards per game.

Wayne State leads the conference with 44.4 rebounds per game, while ranking fifth in both blocks per game (3.9) and steals per game (9.3).

TOUGH COMPETITION
Two GLIAC teams were ranked in the top five of the WBCA D2 Coaches Poll on Dec. 17th. Grand Valley State remained third behind Drury and Lubbock Christian, with an overall record of 9-0. Ashland continues to rank fourth (8-0).

NEW BASKETBALL ARENA
In May of 2019, it was announced that WSU Athletics and the Detroit Pistons would be partnering to construct a $25 million basketball arena on the west side of the athletic campus.

The approved plan includes construction of a 70,000 square-foot arena near the intersection of Warren and Trumbull avenues with seating capacity for approximately 3,000 fans, office space and locker room areas for both WSU's men's and women's basketball teams, a concessions area and other ancillary spaces. The arena will be ready for play in the 2021-2022 basketball season.

The Pistons G-League team will also call the new facility home.

LOCKER ROOM REPORT
Check WSUAthletics.com every week to watch Carrie Lohr's weekly locker room report. She will recap the week's previous games and preview upcoming opponents.

WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS
All Wayne State home women's basketball games can be watched via Warrior All-Access for a $5.95 per game fee. All home contests during the 2019-20 season will be available on All-Access. Monthly passes are available for $9.95, and year-long access is offered for $69.95.

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Players Mentioned

#30 Ariel Bethea: G; 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

#3 Nastassja Chambers: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#13 Sam Cherney: F; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#4 Becca Fugate: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#32 Grace George: F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#14 Sadia Johnson: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#11 Alex Matus: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#44 Tori Perez: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#23 Mercedes Wagner: C; 6' 1"; Freshman

#2 Kara Wilson: G; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#30 Ariel Bethea
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: G

#3 Nastassja Chambers
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#13 Sam Cherney
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: F

#4 Becca Fugate
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#32 Grace George
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: F

#14 Sadia Johnson
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#11 Alex Matus
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#44 Tori Perez
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#23 Mercedes Wagner
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: C

#2 Kara Wilson
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G