March 19, 2009

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ROCHESTER, Mich. - Junior Melissa Jeltema scored 17 points and senior Jessica Pike added 15 points, but Dayton (21-13) used a big second half to snap Oakland University's (26-7) 10-game home winning streak, 70-55, in the first round of the WNIT on Thursday night inside the Athletics Center O'Rena.

"This team doesn't ever not play hard so it's not like they didn't want it," said head coach Beckie Francis. "The only thing I can say was that they were trying too hard. They were seeing things that weren't there and that hurt us."

The Golden Grizzlies shot just 34 percent (8-23) in the second half and the Flyers outscored OU 41-25. It was just the second time all season long, 19-2, that Oakland surrendered a first-half lead, taking a slight one-point advantage into halftime, 30-29.

Jeltema added a team-high eight rebounds to go with her 17 points, while freshman Sharise Calhoun scored eight points for OU.

Leading Dayton was sophomore Kristin Daugherty with a game-high 19 points, while freshman Justine Raterman posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The first half was closely contested with neither team grabbing a bigger lead than four points, but the Golden Grizzlies closed the opening 20 minutes on a 5-0 run to take a one-point lead at the break.

The Flyers bench came alive in the second half, getting 15 points from the reserves compared to OU's two points. UD outscored the Grizzlies 16-3 over the first eight minutes to take a commanding 12-point lead, 45-33. Oakland continued to fight hard getting it back within six points, 45-39, but Dayton countered with an 8-0 run to end any chance of a come back by the Golden Grizzlies.

Oakland ends the season with 26 wins, the most ever by the Golden Grizzlies since joining the Division I ranks. It also is just the second time all season that Oakland fell in two straight games.

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