WARRIORS SECURE FIRST WHAC WIN AGAINST LOURDES

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - Warrior fans were thankful for a win on Tuesday night in Garth Pleasant Arena, as Warrior women's basketball secured a close victory over the Lourdes Gray Wolves right before Thanksgiving break. All four quarters were decided by just two points, with the Warriors winning three of the quarters to seal the win. Four Warriors scored in double-figures in the matchup, led by freshman guard Samone Andrews with 15 points. Forward Melanie Moore had a monster game on the glass, pulling down 15 rebounds and scoring 13 in the contest. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

RCU started the game up two with a two-shot technical, and the teams were off to a hot start with baskets going back and forth. Senior guard Imari Martin hit a three in transition following a steal by forward Jacey Somers to help give the Warriors momentum early in the first quarter. The Gray Wolves answered with two baskets inside to briefly take the lead, but a layup by Moore helped spark a 9-0 run that was capped off by an and-one from the forward. 

Lourdes stormed back with two steals by guard Tamyah Worthy, who set up fellow Lourdes guard Emma Pedroza for three consecutive baskets to put the Warriors back in a deficit. However, the Warriors got an emphatic answer from guard Shahd Bakkar, who nailed back-to-back threes to give the Warriors a lead heading into the second quarter. 

Lourdes' Worthy continued her impressive defensive half with another steal and scored to tie the game before scoring again on an outlet pass from Pedroza. The Warriors took the lead back off a three by forward Demi Rodriguez. The battle continued with both teams continuing to bucket-trade before the Warriors got another major three from forward Emiley Lockey, which started a 7-0 run for RCU. The Warriors entered the second half up 39-35. 

SECOND HALF

Following a layup inside by Lourdes' Worthy, Somers hit a three on the other end to give the Warriors a five-point lead to begin the third quarter. The Warriors maintained a two-possession lead for the first minutes of the third, with Andrews and Moore scoring layups on two straight Warrior possessions. Andrews added a steal and scored to expand RCU's lead to eight.

Before the Warriors' lead could grow any larger, turnovers allowed the Gray Wolves to get back into the game. Worthy and Pedroza continued to score in the paint for Lourdes, bringing the visitors down just one with two minutes remaining in the third period. Somers kept the Gray Wolves at a distance with a big three off an assist from Ashley Loon, but the Warriors would be up just two heading into the fourth quarter. 

Loon's minutes were huge for the Warriors, hitting a three a minute into the final quarter to give the Warriors a five-point lead. Another clutch three for the Warriors came from Martin just under two minutes later, hitting a three off the wing after a Gray Wolves' 4-0 run. Martin assisted Moore on a basket shortly after to put the Warriors up seven with six and a half to go. 

Andrews continued her big day with a jumper at the baseline to keep the Warriors' lead to three possessions. Lourdes began to make a final push to try and get back into the game, but Andrews and Martin hit six crucial free throws to ensure the Warriors got out of the game with a win. 

STAT OF THE GAME

The Warriors were red-hot from three, shooting 10-20. Four different Warriors hit two threes in the contest. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors will head on the road to face the Aquinas Saints on Wednesday, Dec. 4. 

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Tamera Robinson - RCU Athletics