DETROIT – The Wayne State University women's basketball team (5-7 overall) snapped its four-game losing streak with a 77-59 non-league triumph over visiting Cedarville University (6-5 overall) Friday afternoon at the Matthaei.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After falling behind 11-4 in the first 5:10, the Warriors responded with a 14-4 run to end the opening stanza.  The seven point lead by CU would be its largest of the game.  Junior Payton Birchmeier (Corunna, Mich.) and sophomore India Hawkins (Detroit, Mich. / Edison Public School Academy) each hit triples sandwiched around a bucket by Yellow Jacket Breanne Watterworth.  Junior Shannon Wilson (W. Bloomfield, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills) followed with back-to-back steals and fast-break lay-ups to give WSU its first lead of the contest at 14-13.  A basket by Watterworth with 2:21 left would be the final points of the period for CU.  A baseline jumper by senior Ajai Meeks (Detroit, Mich. / Pershing) and spin move between two defenders and hoop by sophomore Ja'Nae Williams (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) completed the first quarter scoring.

Wayne State scored of the first 10 points of the second period to open a seven-point advantage (24-17) with 8:16 left before intermission.  Twice Cedarville cut its deficit to three, but both times the Warriors responded first with a triple by Wilson, then a basketball by senior Christina Green (Southfield, Mich. / Lathrup).  After a Yellow Jacket field goal by Taylor Buckley, Birchmeier concluded the first half scoring just before the buzzer with an offensive rebound and put back giving the Warriors a four-point margin (33-29).

Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep) scored the first four points of the third quarter pushing the WSU advantage to eight (37-29).  After CU its deficit to six (39-33) on a bucket by Watterworth, the Warriors tallied the next six points on a basket by Green, a free throw by Chambers and a three-pointer by junior Sara Ruhstorfer (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Flint Powers Catholic).  WSU's lead would be under double digits, just once more at 45-37.  Immediately after Watterworth's layup at the 4:13 mark, Wilson hit a shot from beyond the arc and made the ensuing foul shot for a four-point play.  Less than 90 seconds later, Ruhstorfer connected from long distance and Wilson ended the stanza with a fast-break lay-up that followed a blocked shot by junior Daejia Hill (Muskegon, Mich. / Orchard View) and a defensive rebound by Chambers.

After trading hoops in the first 2:20 of the fourth period, Wayne State went on a 6-0 run as Chambers made two field goal after Wilson started the spurt with a bucket.  The Warrior lead was never fewer than 15 the rest of the contest.

TEAM STATS

Wayne State shot 46 percent (30-of-65) from the field, compared to 44 percent (23-of-52) for CU.  The Warriors shot a season-best 44 percent (7-of-16) from three-point range, with the Yellow Jackets connecting on 20 percent (2-of-10) from beyond the arc.  Both teams struggled at the charity stripe as WSU shot 56 percent (10-of-18) with Cedarville making 61 percent (11-of-18) from the foul line.  CU held a 38-33 edge in rebounds, but WSU led 24-7 in points off turnovers as the Warrior defense forced the Yellow Jackets into 26 miscues.

WSU LEADERS

Wilson tallied a team-best 19 points on 8-of-10 from the floor, including 2-of-3 from long range.  Chambers scored in double figures for the 11th straight contest totaling 14 points and a game-high six steals.  Birchmeier grabbed a team-best six rebounds.

CU LEADERS

Watterworth recorded game-high totals of 22 points and nine rebounds.  She was the only Yellow Jacket in double figures.

WSU NOTES

Freshman Lyndsey Matus (Millbury, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic) tallied her first collegiate point with a free throw late in the contest.  Sophomore Tyesha Hood (Detroit, Mich. / Mumford) made her Warrior debut playing five minutes and grabbing four rebounds (three offensive) along with an assist and a blocked shot.

UP NEXT

All 16 of Wayne State's games in 2017 will be GLIAC contests starting with a road game at Walsh on Thursday.  Tip-off in Canton, Ohio, is slated for 5:30 p.m.