DEFENSE PREVAILS IN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VICTORY OVER LTU

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - The turnover battle made all the difference in the Warriors (5-5, 2-2) 65-59 victory over the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils (2-5, 2-3) on Saturday afternoon in Garth Pleasant Arena. Rochester stole the ball 18 times, including crucial steals in the final quarter to seal the win.

Celeste Mershimer led Rochester in scoring, with Imari Martin and Melanie Moore also scoring in double-figures. Shahd Bakkar posted a career-high nine points off the bench, and was one of three players that recorded at least three steals. The Blue Devils' DeDe Smith and Gracie Bobo combined for 32 points on high efficiency.

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

• Rochester's first quarter was a great start for the team on both ends of the floor, with the Warriors holding the Blue Devils to 2-11 shooting while hitting eight of 18 shots. Mershimer led the way in scoring during the period, getting tough shots inside to fall
• After taking a 17-5 lead in the first quarter, things were much more even in the second, with LTU's Smith getting to the basket at a high rate. However, the Warriors answered each time, including a great no-look dish from Ella Burger inside to Moore
• During the half, Rochester scored most of its points off looks in transition, with the team forcing several turnovers in the half-court

SECOND HALF

• The game slowed into a half-court contest in the third, with the Blue Devils finding openings inside for points while Bobo hit two big threes to cut into the Warriors' lead. Rochester's Martin was sure to keep the Warriors' advantage, hitting two key baskets while also drawing free throws
• Bakkar was able to get open on the wing and swished a high-arching three to the uproar of the Garth Pleasant Arena crowd, and Mershimer found an opening inside to extend Rochester's lead to 12. Lawrence Tech made sure to bring the deficit within nine before the conclusion of the quarter
• The intensity built in the fourth quarter, with the Blue Devils earning hustle points to cut the lead to seven. Martin answered the call again on a jumper to extend the lead back out for the Warriors but points from LTU's Addie Nagel kept it a ballgame
• Mershimer and Ashley Loon hit consecutive threes to take Rochester up 12, but a brief Blue Devil run cut things back down to six. However, Bakkar would make one of the defensive plays of the night in transition, leaping in front of a pass and wasting clock to seal the game for the Warriors.

STAT OF THE GAME

Rochester's 18 steals were a season-high.

POST-GAME PRESSER

Head Coach Jared Ocampo had this to say about the Warriors' win:

"The limited turnovers really helped us today. We took much better care of the ball and made much better decisions, and we saw how much of a difference it makes. We really emphasized the importance of understanding LTU's personnel.

We knew they liked to set screens for their guards. It was a matter of understanding whether to go over or under the screens depending on personnel. For the most part, we took their primary options away and forced others to do more."

UP NEXT

The Warriors will get a week off before returning home to take on the Michigan-Dearborn Wolverines (1-7, 0-4) on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Hanna Swanson - RU Athletics