Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Wayne State University Athletics

Sadia Johnson 11-19-2019 at Findlay
Findlay Sports Information
Sadia Johnson led WSU with 13 points.
81
Winner Wayne State WS 3-1
75
Findlay UF 3-2
Winner
Wayne State WS
3-1
81
Final
75
Findlay UF
3-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Wayne State WS 13 25 18 25 81
Findlay UF 26 19 19 11 75

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Women's Basketball Rallies From 16 Down For 81-75 Win At Findlay

Johnson, George and Perez each score in double figures.

FINDLAY, Ohio – The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (3-1 overall) continued the non-conference portion of its schedule Tuesday evening with a contest at former GLIAC member the University of Findlay (3-2 overall).   The Warriors outscored the host Oilers 68-49 over the final three quarters in posting an 81-75 in-region road triumph.

The Oilers scored the first eight points of the game, until a triple by sophomore guard Alexis Miller (Howell, Mich.) ended the scoreless drought.  After a triple by freshman guard Rebecca Fugate (Holly, Mich.) pulled the Warriors within six at 12-6 at the 4:38 mark, UF went on a 9-0 run over the next 3:14 before a bucket by Fugate.  Findlay led 26-13 after 10 minutes as WSU shot just 24 percent (5-of-21) from the floor in the opening stanza.

UF's Paige Bellman scored early in the second quarter, but Wayne State answered with a 10-0 spurt over the next 2:17 to cut its deficit to five (28-23).  Freshman center Mercedes Wagner (Sherwood, Ohio / Fairview) scored the first five points of the run before junior forward Tori Perez (Belleville, Mich.) connected on a pair of free throws.  Senior guard Alex Matus (Millbury, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic) drained a triple before Miller split a pair from the charity stripe.  Findlay hit back-to-back three pointers by Bellman and Lilly Simon to extend its lead to 11 (34-23) at the mid-point of the second period.

After going 0-for-3 from the foul line in the first quarter, Wayne State was 8-of-11 in the second period to trail 45-38 at intermission.  Senior guard Lyndsay Matus (Millbury, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic) connected twice from long range in the first 3:11 of the second half to cut the Warrior deficit to three (47-44).  Another triple by Lyndsey Matus at the 5:37 mark made it a two-point contest (49-47).

Moments later, senior Sadia Johnson (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Central) scored two baskets in a 10-second span to make it a five-point game (60-55) with 95 seconds left in the third stanza.  The third quarter ended with the host Oilers leading 64-56.

After falling behind by 11 (67-56) just 18 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Wayne State defensive pressure limited Findlay to one made field goal over the next eight minutes (9:42-1:45), while the Warrior offense totaled 15 points to knot the game at 71-71 on a pair of foul shots by Nastassja Chambers (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Arbor Prep) with 3:48 remaining.

Chambers then split a pair from the charity stripe with 2:36 left giving Wayne State its first lead of the game.  UF's Bridget Landin hit a long-range two pointer to regain the lead for the hosts with 1:45 remaining.  Chambers then made two free throws with 1:24 left and sophomore forward Grace George (DeWitt, Mich.) scored a lay-up with 41.2 seconds to extend the Warrior advantage to three (76-73).  Perez then grabbed a defensive rebound with 17 seconds left.  Miller split a pair with 15.2 seconds left then Chambers grabbed a defensive rebound and made both foul shots with 8.5 seconds remaining.

TEAM STATS

Wayne State shot 34 percent (24-of-71) from the floor, compared to 39 percent (27-of-70) for UF.  The Warriors were 10-of-32 (31 percent) from beyond the arc, while Findlay was 7-of-22 (32 percent).  WSU made 72 percent (23-of-32) from the foul line, including 12-of-14 (86 percent) in the final period.  The Oilers finished 14-of-16 (88 percent) from the charity stripe. Wayne State had a 49-47 edge in rebounding, while the Warriors took advantage of 44 bench points, with UF totaling 31 points from its non-starters.  The Warriors had 11 turnovers, while forcing Findlay into 17 miscues.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Ten of the 11 players seeing action scored points with three in double figures.  Johnson had a team-best 13 points, while George (12 points) and Perez (10 points) also scored in double digits.  Johnson had a team-high nine rebounds, while Perez had eight boards.  Miller had a game-high seven assists.

LEADING THE OILERS

Bellman tallied game-high totals of 19 points and 16 rebounds, while Amber Schweiger contributed 18 points.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will be at the Matthaei this Thursday for a 7 p.m. contest against Wright State-Lake.
 
Print Friendly Version