Box Score Box Score  |  Video Highlights  |  Photo Gallery

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (2-1 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) scored 53 second-half points Thursday to overcome a halftime deficit and win its conference opener, 85-65, against Tiffin University (3-2 overall, 0-1 GLIAC).

The Warriors trailed the Dragons 37-32 at the break, but used a 15-2 run in the first four minutes of the second half to gain a 47-39 advantage. Wayne State wouldn't trail again in the game and would lead by as many as 24 points in the second half.

WSU started the contest on a 10-1 run behind six points from junior Shareta Brown (Pontiac, Mich. / Grand Blanc) and four points from sophomore Destiny Lavita-Stephens (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Goodrich). Wayne State would hold the lead for much of the first half and had a 30-25 advantage at the last media timeout before halftime, with 3:43 left on the clock.

Tiffin scored 12 of the final 14 points in the first half to take the five-point edge heading into halftime. Brown led all players at the break with 13 points and six rebounds. WSU shot 46.9 percent in the first half, while the Dragons made 15-of-26 shots (57.7 percent) in the opening frame.

Sophomore Brittany Streetman (Warren, Mich. / Lincoln) opened the second half scoring with a three-pointer and added a layup to tie the game 37-37 just 1:21 after intermission. Junior Jackie Jones (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) added two lay-ups and Lavita-Stephens also scored a bucket in a span of 39 seconds to give the Warriors a 43-37 and forcing Tiffin into a 30-second timeout.

WSU would continue to set the pace in the second half. At the third media timeout and with 7:49 left in the game, the Warriors had outscored Tiffin 35-11 in the second half to take a 67-48 lead.

The Warriors shot 56.3 percent in the second half, hitting 18-of-32 shots. For the game, Wayne State had a 51.6 shooting percentage (33-for-64). WSU also held Tiffin to 27.3 percent shooting in the second half and 40.7 percent for the game.

WSU won the rebound battle (41-36), turnover margin (10-15), and led in assists (19-13).

Lavita-Stephens scored a career-high 23 points for WSU. She was 10-for-16 from the field, converting on 2-of-5 three-pointers. Brown added 16 points and nine rebounds, while senior Imari Redfield (Detroit, Mich. / Country Day) had 10 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Jones tallied six points, five assists and seven rebounds for WSU.

Bre Nauman led the Dragons with team-highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Kaylee Patton added 13 points off the bench for Tiffin.

Wayne State hosts Ohio Dominican on Saturday for its second GLIAC contest of the season. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at the Matthaei.