DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (3-3 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) began conference play with a 69-67 triumph over visiting Lake Erie College (2-4 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) Thursday evening at the Matthaei.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first quarter was a see-saw affair with six lead changes and four ties.  The Storm led 16-15 after 10 minutes despite nine points from Warrior freshman Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep).

The second period was very similar with five lead changes and four ties.  The Warriors  won the second quarter by a 24-21 margin.  Junior forward Payton Birchmeier (Corunna, Mich.) led WSU offensively with eight points, including two triples in the period.

Both teams made 15 field goals in the first half with the Warriors connecting on four triples compared to three for Lake Erie.  Wayne State was 5-of-5 from the foul line, while the Storm were 4-of-6 leading to a 39-37 edge for WSU at intermission.

After LEC's Kayla Gabor knotted the game at 39-39 at the 8:51 mark, Birchmeier drained back-to-back three pointers in a span of 36 seconds.  Following a Storm free throw, Birchmeier scored down low, junior Daejia Hill (Muskegon, Mich. / Orchard View) made a jumper in the paint and Chambers finished off the 12-1 run with a pair of foul shots.  Lake Erie ended the third quarter on a 7-3 run to pull within seven (54-47) after three periods.

Another triple by Birchmeier produced the first points of the fourth quarter, but the Storm answered with a 15-4 spurt over the next 5:20 to take a one-point lead (62-61) on a offensive rebound and put-back by Christine Dawson with 3:58 left.  Sophomore Ja'Nae Williams (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) connected from long range to put WSU in front 64-62 with 2:39 left.  After Dawson missed on a lay-up, Birchmeier fed Williams for a fast-break bucket and a four-point advantage.  Dawson scored on a second-chance basket for Lake Erie and both teams had turnovers on their next possessions.  Freshman Alex Matus (Millbury, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic) banked in a triple with 45 seconds left pushing the lead to five (69-64).  The Storm cut their deficit to two (69-67) on a three-pointer by Dajia Jones with 28 seconds remaining.  Two WSU miscues were sandwiched around a Lake Erie turnover in the final 17 seconds as neither team was able to take another shot in the closing seconds.

TEAM STATS

Lake Erie shot 45 percent (27-of-60) from the floor, compared to 44 percent (25-of-57) for WSU.  The Storm made 50 percent (4-of-8) of their triple tries, with the Warriors connecting on 10-of-25 (40 percent) long-range shots.  Both teams made nine foul shots as Wayne State was 9-of-9 (100 percent), while LEC was 9-of-16 (56 percent) from the charity stripe.  WSU held a 39-31 edge in rebounds.

WSU LEADERS

Birchmeier totaled a career-high 19 points, which included 5-of-7 on three-pointers.  She also had a game-high 13 rebounds.  Chambers contributed 13 points, while Williams chipped in with 10 points and five steals.

LEC LEADERS

Dawson tallied a game-high 22 points with Kayla Gabor adding 20 points along with team-best totals of seven rebounds and five steals.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will conclude its five-game home stand with a 1 p.m. tip-off on Saturday against Hillsdale in the final regular-season meeting between the two schools as the Chargers leave the GLIAC this summer.