Wright State Women Defeat Detroit

Photos © and Courtesy of Tim G. Zechar

January 31, 2009
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This was an interesting game. To several of us it was as if Wright State was showcasing one player at a time against Detroit. Maybe that was the plan, if so it appeared sloppy but was good enough for the Lady Raiders to get the win.

In the first half the lead changed hands four times and the score was tied twice. The Raiders seemed to come at Detroit one at a time and then switch to a different WSU player.

Sophomore LaShawna Thomas started the game off seeming to challenge Detroit by herself. That is appearances of course, but at the 13:39 mark with the score 13-10 in Wright States favor, seven of those 13 points had come from Thomas. After Detroit scored, with 11:12 left in the half, Freshman Molly Fox seemed to have seen enough and she took over.

The Lady Raiders then went on a 12-5 run. All nine of Fox's first half points would be made during that twelve point run! Next up for the Raiders in the first half was Freshman Maria Bennett.

Bennett would take on Detroit in a three-point shooting contest - and win. Starting with a three from Detroit at 4:47 to make it 22-20, Bennett returned their shots, two threes and a jumper, with three treys of her own. Detroit would get the last shot in the half, a layup, to send the teams to the locker room with Wright State leading 31-27.

The Lady Raiders shot 39.3% (11-28) in the first half and a remarkable 4-5 (80%) from the line. From beyond the arc, they were 45.5% (5-11) which includes Bennett's three out of four from three point land. The 5-11 three-point shooting tied the teams half time 3 points attempted and made record.

Both Fox and Bennett finished the half with nine points, while Thomas sank seven points. Thomas lead the defensive effort with 5 rebounds and one steal. The Raiders were still being hampered by turnovers committing 16 in the half for 10 Detroit points.

The scoring in the second half started with Thomas at the line, hitting two free throws. The second half saw the Lady Raiders keep the lead with a variety of Wright State women scoring and playing tough. However, as one fan said in the stands, Molly Fox was this game's Most Valuable Player. Several times she let Detroit know she was not going to give up the ball without a struggle. At the 16:51 mark she did her "Fox Block" on a Detroit player's shot, right after she herself had put in a layup at the other end.

The closest Detroit could come to Wright State in the second half was a two point deficit early in the period. Wright State would get the win beating the Lady Titans 65-58.

Wright State finished the game shooting 42.3% (22-52) to Detroit's 32.8% (19-58). The Raiders controlled the boards with 44 rebounds (a record) to Detroit's 36. The Raiders also set a record shooting 21 three point shots, the previous record was 19. They hit 8 of those 21 for 38.1%. Unfortunately the Lady Raiders set another record - 32 turnovers, one more than the previous record, which was against Valpo earlier this month. Those TO's resulted in 23 Detroit points. WSU however was able to pick up 25 points from Detroit's 22 turnovers.

Sophomore LaShawna Thomas got her first double-double today hitting 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, a personal best in rebounds for Thomas. Freshman Molly Fox, with family in the stands today, hit the game high for all players and a personal best, of 19 points and was just one shy of her own double-double with nine boards. Freshman Maria Bennett finished with her own career high of 13 points and also three rebounds.

Next up for the Lady Raiders will be a game at Butler on Friday Feb 6th, which will be televised on ESPNU at 9pm. Then after traveling to a game at Valpo they will return to host UW-Green Bay on Feb 12th at 7pm.