DETROIT -- The 11th-ranked Wayne State University women's basketball team led from start to finish in posting a 71-64 triumph over visiting Lake Superior State University Thursday night at the Matthaei.  The Warriors are 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the GLIAC, while the Lakers fell to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the GLIAC.

Senior Shareta Brown (Pontiac, Mich. / Grand Blanc) drained a triple just moments into the contest, then classmate Jackie Jones (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) had a steal and lay-up and WSU was off to a 7-0 advantage following a steal by junior Destiny Lavita-Stephens (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Goodrich) which led to a jumper in the paint by Brown.

After a triple by Lavita-Stephens made it 10-2, LSSU's Alexandra Morrow scored the next four points to cut the Warrior margin to four (10-6).  Brown made a pair from the charity stripe but Laker April LaCross drained a three-pointer to make it 12-9 at the 14:00 mark.  A 12-3 run by Wayne State pushed the advantage to 12 (24-12).  Five different Warriors scored during the spurt.

The halftime score of 35-21 was WSU's largest lead of the opening 20 minutes which concluded on four consecutive points by sophomore Gabby Machado (Pontiac, Mich. / Northern).  Wayne State shot 54 percent (13-of-24) in the first half compared to 25 percent (6-of-24) for Lake Superior.  Each team had 10 turnovers at intermission with Brown leading all scorers with 13 points.

Senior Amber McCann (Southfield, Mich. / Southfield-Lathrup) scored on the first possession of the second half increasing the lead to 16 (37-21).  WSU's lead remained in double digits for the next 10 minutes until a fast-break lay-up by LSSU's Megan Manninen capped a 10-4 run by the Lakers.

Wayne State's last double-digit lead was 61-51 with 3:16 left following a lay-up by Machado.  A conventional three-point play by Laker Tamara Novic was answered with a lay-up from Lavita-Stephens.  LaCross scored from down low, and following Lavita-Stephens splitting a pair from the foul line, Manninen made two foul shots with 1:30 left cutting the Warrior lead to six (64-58).

Junior Kristen Long (Corunna, Mich. / Durand) made a pair of free throws, but Novic scored on a lay-up to once again make it a six-point contest, the closest Lake Superior would be the rest of the way.  Brown made two foul shots twice sandwiched around a jumper by Novic.

Brown tallied her 50th career double-double with game-high totals of 24 points and 14 rebounds.  Machado chipped in with 14 points, while Lavita-Stephens added 11 points.

Kandace Crittendon paced three Lakers in double figures with 15 points.  Mackenzie Edwards contributed 14 points, with Novic added 13 points in just 10 minutes of action.

Wayne State finished the game shooting 50 percent (25-of-50) from the floor and had 11 assists to 16 turnovers with 11 steals led by three each from Brown and Jones.

Lake Superior shot 52 percent in the second half for a game total of 39 percent (20-of-51).  WSU had a slim 34-33 edge in rebounding, with the Lakers holding a 19-11 margin in points off turnovers.

The Warriors will be at home again on Sunday for a 2 p.m. tip-off against conference rival Northwood.