DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (8-6 overall, 2-4 GLIAC) upended Davenport (5-9 overall, 0-6 GLIAC), 83-72, at the Matthaei on Thursday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED
WSU allowed a layup to start the contest, before going on a six-point run to lead 6-2.  During a 4:35 scoring drought for Wayne State, the Panthers took the lead (8-6) by tallying six consecutive points.  Freshman Rebecca Fugate (Holly, Mich.) ended the scoring drought with a free throw at the 3:32 mark.  Davenport scored another bucket, but Wayne State recorded six straight points to regain the lead at 13-10.  The Warriors scored five of the final eight points in the opening stanza to lead 18-13 after 10 minutes.

Wayne State fell behind as Davenport tallied the first eight points of the second stanza to lead 21-18.  Junior Tori Perez (Belleville, Mich.) cut the scoring deficit to one point (21-20) with a bucket at the 8:36 mark.  DU scored another three points, but jumpers by both senior Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep) and Fugate tied the score at 24-24.  There were nine lead changes in the second quarter alone, and 12 in the first half.  Wayne State trailed 41-38 at halftime.

Over the initial 2:28 of the third period, the Panthers scored six points before sophomore Alexis Miller (Howell, Mich.) drained a triple at the 7:14 mark to pull WSU within six at 47-41.  Davenport scored five of the next eight points to lead 52-44 at the 5:17 mark.  WSU regained the lead after a 12-0 run (56-52), which included two triples by senior Sadia Johnson (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Central).  Following a DU jumper, Fugate responded with a bucket from long distance to extend the WSU advantage to five (59-54).  Over the final 1:57 of the stanza, Davenport made two free throws, and WSU had a last-second basket from sophomore Grace George (DeWitt, Mich.) which put Wayne State ahead by five (61-56) at the end of the third period.

George scored the first three points of the quarter, before the Panthers closed the gap by going on an 8-2 spurt to reduce the Warrior advantage to two (66-64) with 5:59 left.  Johnson had a conventional three-point play to push the margin to five (69-64).  DU's Elise Scaggs split a pair from the charity stripe prior to WSU going on an 11-2 run to lead by 13 (80-67) with 2:25 remaining.  Three different Warriors - senior Alex Matus (Millbury, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic), Fugate and Chambers - connected from long distance following a jumper by Johnson.  Wayne State's lead was never fewer than nine over the final two mintues.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State shot 51 percent (32-of-63) from the floor, while the Panthers shot 38 percent (28-of-73) from the field.  The Warriors connected on 12-of-15 (80 percent) free throw attempts, while DU made 9-of-15 (60 percent) from the charity stripe.  Davenport had a 40-39 edge in rebounds.  Each team made seven three pointers.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Chambers and Johnson each scored a team-best 17 points.  George tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 15 points and a game-best 11 rebounds.  Fugate recorded career bests in points (15) and assists (5).

LEADING THE PANTHERS
Madison Jones scored a game-high 21 points, including five triples.  Three other DU players scored in double digits, including Toni Grace (15), Jenna Falkenberg (11) and Scaggs (11).  Scout Nelson grabbed a team-best 10 boards, while dishing out five assists.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will host third-ranked Grand Valley State at the Matthaei on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.