Detroit and Youngstown State both successfully defended their homecourt on Thursday night as the Titans defeated Belmont, 71-68, in the WBI and the Penguins knocked off Indiana State, 63-51, in the WNIT.
Detroit 71, Belmont 68
The Titans jumped out to a 17-4 lead eight minutes into the game and extended their lead to as much as 19 at 33-14 with 3:14 left in the first half, but couldn’t maintain the lead as Belmont would battle back.
The Bruins closed the half on a 9-2 run to cut Detroit’s lead to 35-23 at the break. Belmont extended its run in the second half, outscoring the Titans 27-14 in the first 9:55 of the final 20 minutes, to take their first lead of the game at 50-49 on two free throws.
Demeisha Fambro connected on two free throws to give UDM a 51-50 lead, but the Bruins responded with seven consecutive points to take their biggest lead of the game, 57-51, with 8:39 remaining.
Overall, the Bruins run was 43-18 over 14:35.
Shareta Brown ended Belmont’s run with two free throws and Fambro connected on jumpers on back-to-back possessions to even the game at 57.
The game was tied at 60 when UDM went on a 7-0 run to take control. Fambro put the Titans in front with a free throw and then Brown, Reynolds and then Brown again hit layups as the Titans led 67-60 with 3:21 left.
Belmont had one last run in them, scoring six unanswered points to cut Detroit’s lead to one with 1:13 remaining. The two teams exchanged free throws and Belmont had a chance to win, taking possession with :15 seconds remaining and trailing by one. Yar Shayok blocked Belmont’s layup attempt with 1 second remaining to preserve the Titans win.
Brown led UDM with a game-high 30 points, Fambro added 14 and Shayok finished with 11. The Titans finished the game 26-of-31 from the free throw line. Detroit will play College of Charleston in the second round of the WBI on Sunday.
Youngstown State 63, Indiana State 51
The Penguins rode a balanced scoring attack to a 63-51 win over Indiana State.
Youngstown State has usually relied on the scoring of senior forward Brandi Brown – who came into the game having scored 30 or more points in three of her last four home games – but on Thursday the Penguins had five players finish in double figures.
Brown led the way with 16 points and also pulled down 10 rebounds to record her League-best 23rd double-double of the season. Shar’Rae Davis and Heidi Schlegel – playing her first game since Feb. 21 – scored 12 points and Karen Flagg and Liz Hornberger rounded out the Penguins in double figures with 10 each.
Youngstown State took its first lead of the game on a Hornberger three-pointer to make it 15-13 in the Penguins favor with 9:39 remaining in the first half. The Penguins would never trail again, but the contest remained close throughout.
YSU’s lead was three points with 10:13 remaining in the game when they went on a 5-0 run to take a 49-41 lead. The Sycamores would never get closer than six points the rest of the game as YSU outscored ISU 19-10 over the final 10 minutes to secure the win.
The Penguins will face Toledo in the second round of the WNIT.
