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 Chastidy Miller had 21 points and seven rebounds in the win over Madonna. |
Nov. 24, 2007
DETROIT - The Wayne State University women's basketball team (2-1 overall) won its 2007-08 home opener in convincing fashion, 90-52, over Madonna University (1-4 overall).
The 90 points is the most by a Warrior squad in 54 games since a 91-47 triumph over Concordia on November 22, 2005.
The score was tied four times in the first 8:38 of the contest, the last coming on a triple by WSU senior Nicole Rogers (Lansing, Mich./Everett) to knot the game at 16 after the Crusaders had taken their largest lead of the game (three at 16-13) on a lay-up by Alyssa Guerin.
Rogers' three-point basket started a 13-0 run by WSU, which included at least one point from six different Warriors.
Madonna was able to cut the deficit to nine on three occasions in the final seven minutes before intermission but each time Wayne State responded for a double-digit advantage.
Both teams shot nearly identical 40 percent in the first half with the biggest difference being only nine turnovers by the Warriors compared to 16 for the Crusaders, which led to a 16-4 advantage by WSU in points off turnovers. Caryn Inman had eight points to lead MU at the break, while junior Chastidy Miller (White Lake, Mich./Waterford Kettering) had nine points to lead the Warriors.
Wayne State scored 10 of the first 11 points after halftime for a 51-30 lead with just under 16 minutes remaining. Junior Jasmine McCall (Detroit, Mich./CMA) had six of WSU's first 10 points.
Following a jumper by Madonna's Rebecca Rufli to make it 51-32, WSU went on an 18-0 run over the next 5:45 keyed by 10 points from Miller and six from sophomore Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Jefferson) on a two triples.
The teams played nearly even in the final 9:41 with Wayne State holding a 21-20 scoring advantage.
Bowers had a game-high 24 points off the bench on 6-of-11 from beyond the arc and 6-of-6 at the charity stripe. Miller contributed 21 points on three triples and 12 of 13 from the foul line. McCall had an all-around game with 14 points, eight assists and seven steals in only 28 minutes.
Guerin led Madonna with 17 points and six rebounds.
Wayne State's next game is Monday, Dec. 3 at Central State.
Notes:
Sophomore Brooke Bowers' six made three pointers is tied-for-sixth best single game in school history. She was 1-of-6 from beyond the arc in the first half, and 5-for-5 in the second half.
Chastidy Miller's 12 made foul shots is tied-for-second best single game behind 15 made free throws by Ebony Vincent on Feb. 16, 2004 at Findlay. Vincent is now an assistant coach at Madonna.
Jasmine McCall's seven steals is tied-for-fifth most in a single contest in school history. She had six on Nov. 16 at Wheeling Jesuit.
Kim Gear (Watervliet, Mich.) had four blocks, the sixth most in a game by a WSU player in history.
After making 15 of 36 foul shots (41.7 percent) in its first two games combined, the Warriors made 27 of 33 on its home court for 81.8 percent.
