STORYLINES
Wayne State continues a busy stretch on the court of playing five games in 10 days, with contests at Northern Michigan (2/17) and Michigan Tech (2/19). 

As the season winds down, the Warriors are tied-for-second in the league with Ferris State at 11-5.  Wins down the stretch would be crucial in locking up a home game in the GLIAC Tournament and potentially solidifying a spot in the NCAA Tournament. 

SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors are 25-34 all-time against Northern Michigan, including a 10-19 record on the road versus the Wildcats.  The two clubs have split their last 10 meetings.  WSU's last win in Marquette was back on December 15, 2014 (69-57).

WSU is 20-43 all-time versus Michigan Tech, with the Huskies taking seven of the last 10 meetings.  The Warriors have struggled in Houghton, posting an 8-23 mark on the road versus the Huskies.  WSU is 2-3 in its last five road contests at Michigan Tech. 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
After dropping six straight games, Northern Michigan has rebounded to post back-to-back wins over Davenport (2/12) and Saginaw Valley State (2/14).  

The Wildcats feature one of the better players in the league in Makaylee Kuhn.  She ranks fourth in the GLIAC in points per game (15.8), seventh in rebounds per contest (6.5), and 10th in both assists (62) and steals (26). 

She is the only player on the Wildcats roster to average at least eight points per game.  Defensively, Ana Rhude has provided a spark, blocking 1.4 shots per game.  Emily Mueller is grabbing over five boards per game, while Elizabeth Lutz is scoring 7.1 points per outing.

As a team, the Wildcats rank near the middle of the league in every category.  However they are very strong defensively and on the glass.  NMU is holding opponents to 57.5 points per game and averages the fifth most rebounds per contest (37.5). 

Michigan Tech features a potent scoring attack, with four players that average nine or more points per game. 

The Huskies are led by Ellie Mackay, who is third in the league in scoring at 17.2 points per contest.  She also averages 5.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. 

In support, Alex Rondorf, Katelyn Meister and Sara Dax all provide solid shooting numbers.  Rondorf leads the league in shooting percentage (57.5%), while Meister is third (53.7%) and Dax is fifth (51.9%).  Rondorf is also third in the league in three-point shooting at 41.9%.  

The Huskies rank first in the league in made field goals per game and field goal percentage.  Additionally, MTU leads the league in home attendance average, making life difficult on visiting opponents. 

LAST TIME OUT
Wayne State rebounded in a big way defeating Lake Superior State, 80-44, Feb. 15 inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

The Warriors started fast, and never looked back, opening up a 19-5 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.  Kate Sherwood kicked things off with a bucket in the opening seconds of the contest.  The Lakers would go up 5-4 at the 7:21 mark of the period, but the Green and Gold took control from there.  Closing the frame on a 15-0 run, Grace George scored six points, Maxine Moore added four, Becca Fugate nailed a three pointer and Sam Cherney had a lay-up. 

That lead would continue to grow in the second period, as the Green and Gold scored the first nine points of the frame, including seven from Cherney.  WSU led 28-8 with just under seven minutes to play before halftime.  Shea Tripp entered the scoring column with back-to back buckets, pushing the Warriors' lead to 32-8 at the 4:53 mark of the stanza.   Kate McArthur's three at 1:54 mark of the frame put the Warriors in front by 30 (42-12).  Alyssa Leister hit a three of her own just seconds later, giving WSU a 45-12 lead.  Rebecca Morrish followed that up with a lay-up in the closing seconds of the quarter to give the Green and Gold a 47-12 halftime advantage. 

The Lakers came out of the break and cut into the Warriors' lead with nine points in the opening minutes.  However, the Green and Gold would quickly put an end to that outburst, finding some offense of its own.  A pair of threes by George and a lay-up by Sherwood put WSU in front by 36 (57-21) at the 6:35 mark of the stanza.  The Lakers made a push down the stretch of the quarter, but the Warriors still carried a 34-point advantage into the final frame.  Cherney, George, Fugate, Sherwood, Moore and Anna Ruhstorfer scored for WSU in the period.

Halle Barnett scored the first points of the frame for the Warriors, while Ruhstorfer added another bucket moments later to push the Warriors in front, 70-34.  Chenelle King would add four points from the free throw line, giving WSU a 74-36 advantage with 5:38 to play.  Ally Shagena buried a pair of free throws at the three-minute mark to help the Warriors hold onto a 37-point advantage (77-40).  Minutes later, Shagena would put the Green and Gold up 40 (80-40) with just over a minute to play.  WSU would go on to win by a final score of 80-44.

NATIONAL RANKINGS
Entering this week, WSU was second in defensive rebounds per game (31.1), 11th in blocks per game (5.0), 17th in rebounds per game (43.1), 21st in rebounding margin (+8.1), 23rd in blocked shots (101), 24th in field goal percentage defense (.355), 38th in three-point field goal percentage (.344), and 43rd in fewest fouls (315).

The Warriors currently lead the GLIAC in rebounds per game and blocks per game, along with rebounding margin and defensive rebounds per game. 

Individually, Sam Cherney is sixth in blocks per game (2.95), ninth in rebounds per game (11.8), 11th in blocked shots (59), 18th in defensive rebounds per game (7.7), 19th in total rebounds (235), 21st in offensive rebounds per contest (4.0), and 45th in double-doubles (9).

Additionally, Grace George is sixth nationally in free throw percentage (.911 / 41-45), while Kate Sherwood is 50th (.843 / 59-of-70).

In terms of single game totals, Cherney's 21 rebounds against Ferris State (1/6/22) are tied for 14th most in a game this season.
Among all active D2 players, Cherney is 18th in career total rebounds (945), eighth in rebounding average (9.5), 11th in both blocks (204) and blocks per game (2.04) and 44th in double-doubles (22).

GEORGE CONTINUES SCORING IN BUNCHES
Senior Grace George broke the school record for points in a quarter with 18 vs. Ferris State on January 29th on 5-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, and 6-of-6 at the charity stripe.  Brittany Streetman had a 16-point fourth quarter on February 1, 2016, at Findlay in the first year the women's collegiate game went to quarters from halves.

A double digit quarter is nothing new for George.  She had three in just six games last year before suffering a season-ending injury in game six.  She had an 11-point outburst in the first game at Davenport, totaled 13 points in a quarter in game one vs. Northwood, and tallied 11 points the next day vs. the Timberwolves before being injured.  In the Feb. 7th win at Northwood, George contributed 15 points in the third period.

George finished the FSU contest with 34 points, which is tied-for-10th most in program history, and is the most since Shannon Wilson scored 35 vs. Findlay on November 11, 2017.  The six made triples is tied-for-10th most in school history, as is the .667 percentage from beyond the arc.

She followed up those strong performances with another prolific scoring outburst against Purdue Northwest on Feb. 12.  George poured in 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field, including three triples. 

STINGY DEFENSE
The Warrior defense has been outstanding so far through 21 games.

In fact, this year's squad is on pace to have the lowest opponent field goal percentage in program history.  WSU is currently allowing opponents to shoot 35.3 percent from the floor.  The school record is 35.9 percent by the 1977-78 team.
1:  .353 / 2021-22 
2:  .359 / 1977-78 
3:  .368 / 2012-13 
4:  .384 / 2014-15 
5:  .386 / 1980-81

TABBED FOR THIRD
In the GLIAC Preseason poll, the Warriors were picked to finish third in the South Division behind Grand Valley State and Northwood.  Both of those teams received first-place votes.

Michigan Tech and Ferris State were the top two teams in the North Division.  Both of those squads received first-place votes. 

CHERNEY MAKES HISTORY
In the loss at Ashland on Nov. 28, Sam Cherney collected a game-high 14 rebounds, which made her WSU's all-time leading rebounder.  Cherney currently has 952 career rebounds passing former Warrior great Shareta Brown, who totaled 769 rebounds in her two seasons at WSU (2013-15).

NON-CONFERENCE NOTES
The Warriors started the season 4-0 for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign and lost its first game of the season at sixth-ranked Ashland on Nov. 28.  

WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS
Every home basketball game this season will be streamed at WSUAthletics.com/watch with Warrior broadcaster Kevin Brechmacher calling the action.

WARRIOR COACHES
Assistant coach Karen Lafata, who holds three degrees from Wayne State, has been with head coach Carrie Lohr for all 10-plus seasons.  

Assistant coach Christina Green joined the coaching staff in the summer of 2019 as a graduate assistant coach and was elevated to a full-time assistant coach this past spring.  Green played basketball for the Warriors between 2013 and 2017 scoring in double figures 19 times.