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 Chastidy Miller scored a career-high 32 points in win over Gannon. |
Jan. 24, 2008
DETROIT - The Wayne State University women's basketball team (8-8 overall, 4-5 GLIAC) held on for a 78-76 triumph over visiting Gannon University (11-7 overall, 5-4 GLIAC) Thursday evening in the Matthaei.
The victory snaps a three-game series winning streak for the Lady Knights, and was WSU's first home victory over GU since Feb. 5, 2005.
It was a see-saw affair with the score being tied eight games along with 10 lead changes. Gannon's largest lead was four points, while Wayne State's largest lead was nine points (62-53) midway through the second half.
The Lady Knights last lead of the contest came 1:05 into the second half at 41-39. A lay-up from sophomore Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson) knotted the game at 41 and was followed by five consecutive points from junior Chastidy Miller (White Lake, Mich./Waterford Kettering) to cap off a 9-0 Warrior run.
A GU lay-up by Kristina Freeman tied the game at 46 at the 16:38 mark, but the Warriors scored nine of the next 12 points for a 55-49 advantage. Bowers had five points during the run with Miller adding four points.
WSU was able to reach its biggest lead (62-53) with a 7-4 run. The Lady Knights answered with an 11-3 run over the next 4:30 to pull within one at 65-64 with 6:22 remaining.
Miller split a pair from the foul line, Bowers sank two free throws, junior Joy Nash (Muskegon, Mich.) had a steal and fast break lay-up and junior Jasmine McCall (Detroit, Mich./CMA) had an offensive rebound and put back for an eight point Warrior lead (72-64) with 4:07 left.
The Wayne State lead remained between four and eight until back-to-back three-point baskets by GU's Ashley Lowdermilk made it a two-point game with 3.5 seconds remaining.
Following a timeout for each team, the Warriors turned the ball over, but the Lady Knights were able to get a shot off in the waning seconds because of tough defense by Wayne State.
Miller had a career-high 32 points, her second consecutive game with a career-best. Bowers and McCall each contributed 12 points for WSU. Kim Vargas led Gannon with 32 points on 10-of-17 from the floor and 12-of-14 from the foul line.
Gannon held a 40-34 advantage on the glass with GU's Brittany Tabron grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Senior Bethany Jury (Plymouth, Mich./Livonia Ladywood) had a team-high six rebounds for WSU.
Wayne State will look to extend its two-game winning streak on Saturday when the Warriors host Mercyhurst College for a 1 p.m. tip-off.
