ROCHESTER, Mich.- Kahlaijah Dean scored a team-high 19 points while Alona Blackwell added 17 points just missing her career-high by one point as Oakland battled defending league champion Wright State before eventually falling, 77-60, on Thursday night at the O'rena.

Kayla Luchenbach chipped in with eight points going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line while Jalisha Terry dished out a game-high six assists.

It was a tale of two halves as Oakland (11-17, 6-11 HL) and Wright State (17-11, 12-5 HL) embarked on a defensive standoff in the first half with both teams having trouble scoring. The Golden Grizzlies shot 31 percent from the field compared to 37.5 percent by the Raiders.

After trailing by 10 points In the second quarter, Oakland chipped away as Blackwell hit back-to-back 3-pointers followed by a fast break layup to bring the Golden Grizzlies within three points, 27-24. After WSU added a layup, Terry added a pair of free throws to keep the game close at 30-26 heading in the locker room at the half. Blackwell had 14 of Oakland's 26 first-half points.

In the second half, WSU's offense got going shooting 55 percent in the third and 60 percent in the fourth quarter while conversely, Oakland shot 37.5 and 35 percent respectively which led to being outscored 47-34 overall in the half.  

The Raiders came out in the third quarter on a 8-2 run and went on to outscore Oakland 24-17 in the frame to take an 11 point lead into the fourth at 54-43.  

Mid-way through the fourth quarter, both teams heated up offensively as Oakland hit 6-of-8 shots from the field. However, the Golden Grizzlies saw the deficit increase soon after as they went on a 3:20 minute scoring drought while WSU connected on 8-of-11 shots from the field increasing the lead to 14 points, 74-60, en route to the win.

Oakland closes out the regular season against Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 3 p.m.





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