DETROIT - Kahlaijah Dean, Autumn Kissman and Alona Blackwell combined for 51 points to lead Oakland to its seventh consecutive Metro Series win over Detroit Mercy in convincing fashion, 80-61, on Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall. Dean scored a team-high 18 points with six assists and three steals followed by Kissman who scored 17 points shooting a blistering 8-for-10 from the field just missing her career-high by two points. Blackwell was the third player in double figures with 16 points and six rebounds.

Breanne Beatty matched a career-best in rebounds (11) and assists (5) with four points while Breanna Perry added six points with three of Oakland's five total blocks. Brianna Breedy and Kayla Luchenbach also chipped in with seven points each. 

Oakland (5-7, 5-4 HL) dished out a season-high 23 assists on 32 made baskets while shooting a season-best 52.5% from the field. Defensively, the Golden Grizzlies held Detroit Mercy (1-12, 1-8 HL) to just nine fourth quarter points. Led by Beatty's five offensive rebounds, Oakland crashed the offensive glass, pulling down 14 boards that resulted in 13 second-chance points.

After falling behind 2-0, Oakland went on a 7-0 run with 8:32 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Brianna Breedy, to take a 7-2 lead. The Golden Grizzlies then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 21-18 advantage. Oakland did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 14 of its 21 points close to the basket.

Oakland kept its first quarter lead intact before going on an 8-0 run starting at the 1:32 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Beatty, to increase its lead to 44-35, a score that would hold until halftime. Oakland was strong from deep in the period, knocking down four three-point shots to account for 12 of its 23 points. The Golden Grizzlies used an 8-0 run to close out the half and another to move ahead by 15 points in the third quarter.

Oakland continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Blackwell, to expand its lead further to 64-49 with 2:01 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Titans had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Golden Grizzlies still entered the fourth quarter with a 66-52 edge. Oakland played well near the basket, scoring 20 of its 22 points in the paint.

The Golden Grizzlies tacked on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on an 11-0 run, finished off by Dean's three, to grow the lead to 77-52 with 5:06 to go in the contest. The Titans narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Golden Grizzlies still cruised the rest of the way for the 80-61 win. Oakland fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 14 points.

The series final is set for Saturday, Jan. 16 at 1 p.m.

Game Notes
» The Golden Grizzlies held the Titans to only 36.1 percent shooting from the field.
» Oakland never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» The Golden Grizzlies put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 72 percent of made field goals.
» Oakland had a 43-32 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Oakland defense forced 19 turnovers.
» The Golden Grizzlies were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording five blocks as a team.
» Oakland cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 14 offensive boards in the game.
» Kahlaijah Dean led the Golden Grizzlies with 18 points.
» Oakland got a game-high 11 rebounds from Breanne Beatty.

This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.





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