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 Bowers adds 20 points, with 6 of 8 shooting from 3-point range. |
Dec. 23, 2006
University Center - The Wayne State University women's basketball team (4-7 overall) defeated Saginaw Valley State University (3-5 overall) 82-76 at the O'Neill Jr. Arena, on the campus of Saginaw Valley University on Saturday for their first road win of the season.
Less than 24 hours after suffering one of their worst shooting efforts of the season, the Warriors came out on fire. A basket by Sophomore Chastidy Miller (White Lake/Waterford Kettering) to start the game seemed to set the pace for Wayne State early. After exchanging the lead with the Cardinals in the opening 7 minutes of the game, a jumper by Sophomore Monique George (Detroit/Cass Tech) sparked a 14-4 run that included 3-point baskets by Freshman Brooke Bowers (Delphos, Ohio/Delphos Jefferson) and Senior Cherita Smith (Grand Rapids/Union).
Saginaw kept it close for the next few minutes, until three more 3-pointers by Bowers and baskets by George and Junior Nicole Rogers (Lansing/Everett) extended the Warrior lead to 16, with 2:12 left in the opening half.
Two baskets by the Cardinals cut the lead to 11 at the half, as Wayne State went into the locker room up 40-29. Wayne State shot 43.8 percent for the opening half, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arch.
Saginaw Valley opened the second half with a 3-pointer, but Miller countered with a trey of her own to keep the Warrior lead in double figures. Wayne State traded baskets with Saginaw over the first nine minutes of half, until Smith was able to lead an 8 point run by the Warriors with some key free throws. Bowers and Miller each added to the run with 3-point baskets, as Wayne State saw their lead extended to 15, at 65-50 with only 8:10 left in the game.
Wayne State maintained their lead until 5:05 left in the half when a triple by Saginaw sparked a 17-4 run that cut the Warrior lead to just a point (74-73) with 1:13 left in the game.
A layup by Miller and a crucial 3-pointer by Rogers put Wayne back up by 6, and Bowers and Rogers were able to close out the game with a pair of free throws each.
Miller finished the game with 24 points, on 7 of 8 shooting (3 of 3 from 3-point range), and 7-8 from the charity stripe. Bowers, behind 6 of 8 shooting from beyond the arch, added 20 points, while George chipped in 14 points, and 7 boards.
Wayne State out rebounded Saginaw Valley 47-37, while holding the Cardinal to 35.9 percent shooting. The Warriors shot 42.6 percent overall, and 55 percent from three point range (11-20).
Wayne State will be back on the road December 29th and 30th, with games against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and Southern Indiana. Both games will be held in Edwardsville, Illinois.
