DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (13-11 overall, 7-9 GLIAC) recorded an 81-58 home court victory against Purdue Northwest (6-18 overall, 5-11 GLIAC) on Thursday evening at the Matthaei.

HOW IT HAPPENED
WSU opened the contest with four straight points.  The Warriors allowed a PNW jumper, but senior Alex Matus (Millbury, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic) responded with a four-point play to extend the Green and Gold lead to 8-2 at the 8:56 mark.  Over the next 50 seconds, the Pride scored four points to cut their deficit to two (8-6).  Another four points from Wayne State extended its lead to 12-6 with 6:01 remaining in the period.  WSU was held scoreless over the next 4:15, while Purdue Northwest tallied eight straight points for a 14-12 advantage.  This would be the final lead of the contest for the visiting team.  The Warriors regained the lead after six consecutive points, including four from junior Kara Wilson (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Huron), to finish the first stanza leading 18-14.

Wilson scored five straight points at the start of the second quarter, including her first triple of the season.  PNW's Savaya Brockington made back-to-back buckets, pulling the visiting team within five points (23-18) at the 6:47 mark.  The Warriors went on a 10-point spurt over the next 2:59, including five points from freshman Rebecca Fugate (Holly, Mich.) and four points from sophomore Grace George (DeWitt, Mich.).  Purdue Northwest's Tayler Vauters tallied the final four points of the half.  WSU led 33-23 after 20 minutes of play.

Senior Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep) scored the first basket of the second half, but the Pride's Anjel Galbraith responded with a triple at the 9:20 mark.  Back-and-forth buckets over the next 2:25 kept the difference at nine points (39-30).  The Warriors tallied seven straight points for a 46-30 advantage with 4:58 remaining in the period.  Wayne State was outscored 11-6 before going on an eight-point run, including six points from sophomore Kate Sherwood (Canton, Mich. / Belleville) to lead 60-41 with one quarter left.

An 11-point Warrior spurt gave the home team a 71-41 advantage at the start of the final stanza.  During this time, Wilson and junior Tori Perez (Belleville, Mich.) each contributed four points, while senior Sadia Johnson (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Central) drained a three-point bucket.  Over the next 2:57, the Green and Gold outscored PNW 3-1.  A four-point Pride spurt ended when Perez made a layup at the 3:18 mark.  Back-to-back triples by Purdue Northwest cut the deficit to 24 points (76-52), but Fugate responded with her own bucket from beyond the arc with 1:23 remaining in the contest.  Although WSU was outscored 6-2 over the final 1:09, the Green and Gold notched an 81-58 victory over the Pride.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State shot 43 percent (30-of-70) from the field, compared to the Pride's 36 percent (22-of-61).  The Warriors connected on 13-of-16 (81 percent) from the foul line, with PNW making just 8-of-12 (67 percent).  WSU had a 50-31 edge in rebounding, while also leading 18-11 in assists and 6-3 in blocked shots.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Wilson tallied a career-high 13 points.  George earned her 10th double-double with 10 points and a game-best 15 rebounds.  Johnson also scored in double figures with 10 points, while dishing out a game-high and career-best five assists.  Freshman Mercedes Wagner (Sherwood, Ohio / Fairview) blocked a career-high three shots.

LEADING THE PRIDE
Brockington scored a game-best 14 points, while dishing out four assists.  Galbraith (12), Vauters (10) and Bayley Goodman (10) also scored in double figures.  Molly Devalkenaere grabbed a team-high seven boards.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will host Parkside on Saturday, Feb. 15th, with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 p.m.