Women's Basketball 1/28/2021 8:28:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Women's Basketball To Host Conference Co-Leader GVSU This Saturday and Sunday

Warriors look to end two-game losing streak.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team faces a daunting task this weekend having lost back-to-back games for the first time this year and playing host to GLIAC co-leader Grand Valley State. Both the Saturday and Sunday contests against the Lakers will begin at 2 p.m.

THE SERIES
Wayne State trails 26-53 in the all-time series versus Grand Valley State. The Lakers have won 11 straight in the series, including the last four at the Matthaei. The Warriors are 17-20 at home vs. GVSU. Head coach Carrie Lohr has a 3-14 mark vs. Grand Valley State. Wayne State's last win in the series was an 89-63 triumph over the 17th-ranked Lakers on January 2, 2015, when Shareta Brown had 32 points, 24 rebounds and three steals.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Grand Valley State won four straight to begin the year, including a home court sweep of Ashland (73-68 and 70-67) on January 16-17. GVSU split at Parkside (lost 64-68 then won 77-54) before a 77-60 triumph at Davenport on Tuesday.

GVSU is led in scoring by junior guard Emily Spitzley (17.0 PPG) and junior forward Hannah Kulas (12.9 PPG). Spitzley leads the Lakers in rebounding (7.4 RPG) and triples made (17), while freshman guard Ellie Droste has a team-high 20 assists. Kulas has a team-best 21 steals (3.0 SPG).

Head coach Mike Williams is in his sixth year at GVSU and has compiled a 139-33 overall record with the Lakers. Including four years at Davenport, Williams has a career mark of 269-44.

NORTHWOOD SERIES RECAP
Wayne State split its home series with Northwood winning 77-69, before falling 78-63.

In the series opener, the Warriors rallied from a 41-24 halftime deficit for the victory. WSU scored 29 points in the third quarter after being limited to 24 points in the first half. Wayne State shot nearly 50 percent in the second half (18-of-37), while the defense held Northwood to 11-of-34 after intermission.

Grace George led WSU with a game-high and a career-best 30 points, along with a game-high 12 rebounds. Kate Sherwood contributed a career-best 16 points, while Tori Perez helped with 10 points. Alexis Miller dished out a team-high five assists.

The Warriors led 17-9 in the opening stanza on Saturday, before the Timberwolves rallied to take a 45-43 lead at halftime. NU continued to surge outscoring Wayne State 21-12 in the third quarter and 12-9 in the final period.

George led with a game-high 22 points, and five rebounds. Sherwood chipped in with 13 points and Sam Cherney added 10 points and seven rebounds. Perez had a game-best eight rebounds.

ASHLAND RECAP
After falling behind 6-0 on Tuesday, Alexis Miller drained back-to-back triples to knot the game. WSU trailed 24-22 after 10 minutes despite six points and three assists from Miller and five points by Jolee Houle.

The Warriors had a 17-15 scoring advantage in the second period with the game being tied four times including 39-39 at halftime. Tori Perez led WSU with six points and four rebounds in the stanza.

Wayne State had the lead for over four minutes in the third quarter and were led by Becca Fugate (six points) and Miller (five points).

The Warriors took a 63-60 lead early in the final period following a triple by Houle, and a steal and fast-break lay-up by Sam Cherney. WSU would not score for nearly seven minutes as the host Eagles went on a 14-0 run to seal the victory.

Miller had team-high totals of 14 points and four assists to lead four Warriors in double figures. Cherney had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Kara Wilson chipped in with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Houle had a career-high 10 points with Fugate contributing 11 points.

NCAA STATS RECAP
WSU ranks 12th in NCAA Division II in blocked shots per game (4.7), 19th in defensive rebounds per game (30.9), rebounds per game (43.86) and rebounding margin (+8.1), 27th in field goal percentage defense (35.7), 36th in blocked shots (33), 43rd in field goal percentage (43.2), 47th in scoring offense (73.0), and 50th in offensive rebounds per game (13.0).

Junior forward Sam Cherney is 10th in blocked shots per game (2.71), 15th in blocked shots (19), 37th in rebounds per game (9.4),and 41st in defensive rebounds per game (6.9). Grace George is eighth in scoring (22.3 PPG) and 43rd in field goal percentage (53.7).

TABBED FOR FOURTH
Wayne State was voted fourth in the GLIAC South Division Preseason Coaches Poll. Ashland was selected first in the South Division with 11 first-place votes and 61 points. Grand Valley State earned the other first-place vote and 43 points. Saginaw Valley State (39 points) and Wayne State (28 points) were ahead of Northwood (27 points) and Davenport (18 points).

GLIAC ACCOLADES
Junior forward Grace George was selected GLIAC South Division Player of the Week on Monday after helping the Warriors to a split against Northwood last weekend. It is her first weekly honor from the conference office.

In the game one victory, George had game-high totals of 30 points and 12 rebounds, while shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. She scored a game-best 22 points in the game two setback, along with tying for team-high honors with three assists. For the weekend, George averaged 26.0 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 53 percent (19-of-36) from the floor, including 56 percent from three-point range (5-of-9). She was also 9-of-12 (75 percent) from the charity stripe, while contributing three assists and three blocks.

WARRIOR COACHES
Assistant coach Karen Lafata, who holds three degrees from Wayne State, has been with head coach Carrie Lohr for all nine-plus seasons. Graduate assistant Christina Green joined the coaching staff in the summer of 2019. Green played basketball for the Warriors between 2013 and 2017 scoring in double figures 19 times.

WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS
Every home basketball game this season will be streamed live for free at WSUAthletics.com/watch. Both games vs. GVSU can be heard on The Patriot (1400 AM / 101.5 FM) with Kevin Brechmacher on the call.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Sam Cherney: F; 6' 3"; Junior

#4 Becca Fugate: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#32 Grace George: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#3 Jolee Houle: G; 5' 6"; Freshman

#10 Alexis Miller: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#44 Tori Perez: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#21 Kate Sherwood: G; 5' 8"; Junior

#2 Kara Wilson: G; 5' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#13 Sam Cherney
: 6' 3"; Junior
: F

#4 Becca Fugate
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#32 Grace George
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#3 Jolee Houle
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: G

#10 Alexis Miller
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#44 Tori Perez
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#21 Kate Sherwood
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G

#2 Kara Wilson
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G