DETROIT -- For the second time this season, the Wayne State University women's basketball squad (20-3 overall, 16-3 GLIAC) had a winning streak come to an end via the Ashland University Eagles (18-7 overall, 14-5 GLIAC).  AU snapped the Warriors 13-game home court winning streak with an 80-74 win at the Matthaei.

WSU started out sluggish and fell behind 10-5 five minutes into the contest.  Buckets by senior guard Jackie Jones (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) and senior forward Amber McCann (Southfield, Mich. / Southfield-Lathrup) and a triple by junior guard Destiny Lavita-Stephens (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Goodrich) knotted the game at 12.

A 13-4 run by Ashland put the visitors ahead by nine (25-16) with just under five minutes remaining in the first half.  Wayne State was able to cut the deficit to five on a three-pointer by senior guard Ondrea Hughes (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Loy Norrix), but AU's Taylor Woods drained her second triple in less than a minute to regain the eight-point advantage.  Senior center Shareta Brown (Pontiac, Mich. / Grand Blanc) made two fould shots in the final 30 seconds to pull WSU within six (34-28) at intermission.

The Warriors shot 22 percent (9-of-41) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, compared to 48 percent (10-of-21) for the Eagles.  WSU forced 13 Ashland miscues in the first half and had 17 offensive rebounds leading to 16 second-chance points to keep the game within reach.

Wayne State scored the first four points of the second half on a lay-up by Brown and one free throw each from Lavita-Stephens and Jones.  Ashland answered with five consecutive points including another three-pointer from Woods who finished the contest with a game-high 22 points including five triples before fouling out.

After WSU was again within two (41-39) on a Brown bucket, the Eagles scored seven straight points with two baskets by Andi Daugherty sandwiched around a Woods three pointer.

The Eagles increased their margin to 12 (58-46) with 9:03 remaining on a pair of Woods foul shots, but the Warriors kept chipping away and were down two (71-69) with 1:39 left after a triple by junior guard Brittany Streetman (Warren, Mich. / Lincoln).  AU's Kelsey Peare sank two free throws and after a WSU miss, Ashland's Suzy Wollenhaupt split a pair from the charity stripe.  Lavita-Stephens lay-up cut the deficit to three (74-71) before Daugherty made the second in a double-bonus situation.

An offensive foul call on Lavita-Stephens gave Ashland the ball and Peare made two free throws to make it a 77-71 game.

Brown led the Warriors with her 19th double-double of the season on 20 points and 11 rebounds.  Hughes added 13 points off the bench, while Lavita-Stephens chipped in 11 points.  WSU shot 32 percent for the game (26-of-81), but just 23 percent (5-of-22) from beyond the arc.  Wayne State did have a 47-41 edge in rebounding.

Besides Woods' 22 points, Daugherty notched a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds with both Wollenhaupt and Peare scoring 11 points for an Eagle squad that had 23 turnovers.

Wayne State will try to clinch a GLIAC home playoff game with a win on Thursday (Feb. 19) against Malone in a 5:30 p.m. tip.  Seniors Shareta Brown, Ondrea Hughes, Jackie Jones, McKenzie Kudron (New Boston, Mich. / Huron) and Amber McCann will be recognized on "Senior Night."