DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team (7-13 overall, 4-9 GLIAC) ended its three-game losing streak with a 78-61 home court victory over Lake Superior State University (4-16 overall, 2-11 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon at the Matthaei.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening quarter saw five lead changes and three ties with each teams largest lead being three points (WSU 8-5; LSSU 3-0 and 12-9).  The Warriors scored seven of the final nine points of the period on a triple by sophomore Jessica Murphy (Oxford, Mich.), a jumper by freshman Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep) and a lay-up by senior Ajai Meeks (Detroit, Mich. / Pershing) off a feed from Murphy to lead 16-14 after 10 minutes.

Chambers continued the WSU streak early in the second period with two free throws and Meeks added a pair of buckets to push the home squad's advantage to eight (22-14).  When LSSU's Tamara Novic connected on a lay-up with just under five minutes remaining before intermission, it ended a field goal drought of 7:15 for Lake Superior.  After WSU junior Shannon Wilson (W. Bloomfield, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills) and Novic traded hoops, Wayne State went on a 10-0 run with four different players scoring.  Despite two late foul shots by Laker Claire Radtke, the Warriors led 34-22 at halftime.

Both teams scored 21 points in the third quarter with LSSU getting as close as eight on two occasions (37-29 and 39-31), before the Warriors had a 16-12 scoring advantage over the final five minutes of the period.  Junior guard Sara Ruhstorfer (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Flint Powers Catholic) drained two triples in the stanza to lead WSU with six points.  The Wayne State bench had a 16-4 scoring edge in the quarter.

Lake Superior cut its deficit to seven (55-48) with just over nine minutes remaining, but the Warriors responded with another 10-0 spurt.  Sophomore Ja'Nae Williams (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) began the scoring spree with a triple, senior Christina Green (Southfield, Mich. / Lathrup) made a pair of foul shots, Ruhstorfer made two from the charity stripe after a steal, then garnered another steal and lay-up five seconds later and completed the the run as she finished the conventional three-point play with a free throw.

Wayne State's margin was never fewer than 12 the rest of the way.

TEAM STATS

Wayne State shot 43 percent (25-of-58) from the floor, compared to 41 percent (20-of-49) for LSSU.  WSU was 7-of-22 (32 percent) from beyond the arc, while the Lakers were 6-of-17 (35 percent).  The Warriors made 75 percent (21-of-28) of their foul shots, with Lake Superior sinking 15-of-19 (79 percent) free throw attempts.  LSSU had a 38-33 edge in rebounding, along with a 20-12 advantage in second-chance points.  Meanwhile, the Warriors had just four turnovers with LSSU making 18 miscues, which in turn led to Wayne State having a 28-4 advantage in points of turnovers.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Ruhstorfer tallied a career-high 17 points, while Green added 12 points.  Chambers contributed 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.  Williams had seven points and four steals.

LEADING THE LAKERS

Novic led LSSU with game-best totals of 18 points and 10 rebounds.  Mackenzie Edwards chipped in with 17 points, while Radtke had 16 points, but eight turnovers.

UP NEXT

Wayne State concludes the first half of the double round-robin through the North Division with a Monday evening contest at Saginaw Valley State.