Senior guard Lauren Zacharias scorched the nets for 37 points in just 22 minutes of playing time and Wayne State made 14 3-pointers while shooting over 52 percent from the field as the Wildcats cruised past Fort Lewis College 90-60 Friday afternoon at the Colorado Mesa Holiday Inn-Airport Thanksgiving Classic Women’s Basketball Tournament in Grand Junction, Colorado. The Wildcats improve to 3-1 with the win while the Skyhawks fall to 3-2.
Wayne State never trailed in the contest. Zacharias scored the first nine points of the game for WSC in the first 2:01, draining a 3-pointer followed by an old-fashioned three-point play and another 3-pointer to give the ‘Cats an early 9-2 lead.
WSC held a pair of nine points leads in the opening quarter before the Skyhawks closed the first quarter deficit to 17-12 after one quarter.
The ‘Cats sank 6 of 12 3-pointers in the second quarter and 9 of 17 overall shots as WSC outscored Fort Lewis 27-12 in the quarter to take a 44-24 lead at halftime.
The Skyhawks were within nine at 33-24 with 2:45 to play in the half, but WSC closed the half on an 11-0 run and took control of the game.
Wayne State improved on their strong shooting in the third quarter, making 9 of 13 shots for 69 percent, as the “Cats pushed the lead to 70-43 after three quarters. Zacharias scored seven points in the quarter while Delaney Clark sank both 3-pointers with freshman Rachel Dahlen scoring six points making all three shots from the floor.
Reserves saw plenty of action in the fourth quarter as WSC still made 8 of 16 shots from the field outscoring the Skyhawks 20-17 as Wayne State closed with a convincing 90-60 victory.
Zacharias poured in a career-best 37 points in just 22 minutes of playing time to pace the Wildcats. The 37 points were the most scored by a Wildcat player since Amy Brodersen’s 37 points vs. Briar Cliff in 1995. She was 12 of 18 from the field and 7 for 10 behind the arc to go with a perfect 6 of 6 at the stripe. The 7 3-pointers are the most in a game for WSC since Jennifer Yee sank 7 3-pointes vs. Mary on December 7, 2007 and is tied for the fifth most 3’s in a single game. Sophomore Delaney Clark also hit double digits with 14 points going 5 for 8 from the field and 4 of 7 from 3-point range.
Wayne State made 33 of 63 shots for 52.4 percent. The ‘Cats were 14 of 30 from the 3-point line and 10 for 12 at the free throw line.
Fort Lewis shot 36 percent from the field on 18 of 50 shooting. The Skyhawks were 4 of 12 behind the arc and 20 of 29 from the free throw line.
Lanae Billy scored 21 points for Fort Lewis, including a perfect 10 of 10 at the line. Kelsey Sorenson also hit double figures with 15 points.
The Wildcats won the rebounding battle 37-29 as Abby Kopecky grabbed eight boards for WSC. WSC forced 23 turnovers on the Fort Lewis while the ‘Cats had 20, but the Skyhawks held a 25-16 edge in points off turnovers.
Clark and Kopecky each had five assists the ‘Cats while Zacharias and Maya Fitzpatrick each had three steals.
Wayne State will face host Colorado Mesa Saturday evening at 6 p.m. Central Time.
