DETROIT, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies women's basketball team improved to 7-3 in the Horizon and 9-8 overall with a 66-62 win over the Detroit Mercy Titans, escaping Calihan Hall after a battle to the end.
Breanne Beatty tied her career high of 17 points, hitting 3-6 threes as she led the team in scoring.
Kayla Luchenbach and
Kahlaijah Dean each scored 11. It was the fifth game in a row for Luchenbach in double-figures.
In a game where Detroit led for 22 of 40 minutes, Oakland locked up to close out the game, improving to over .500 for the first time this season.
Detroit kicked off the first quarter better than they did in Rochester, taking an early 9-8 lead with four minutes left in the opening period. Brandi Washington and Irene Murua had seven of Detroit's nine. Luchenbach led Oakland with three points midway through the first.
Despite the early Detroit lead, Oakland was able to tie the score at 16 at the end of the first.
Kendall Folley drew a double team and found
Sydney Gouard for a three to knot it up.
The Titans kept pushing the pace, finding most of their success in the paint. Up 23-21, Detroit was shooting 64% from the floor to build their lead. Both teams were applying pressure defensively. Through 14 minutes, Oakland had five steals and Detroit had four.
The Oakland offense started the second quarter 2-9, allowing Detroit to maintain their two-point lead midway through the second. The Titans made more of their offensive rebounds early, outscoring Oakland 10-3 on second chance opportunities.
Both teams continued to trade baskets, but Oakland found a chance to claim the lead going into the half. On a 3-point attempt, Dean was fouled. She hit all three free throws to give Oakland a 32-30 lead at halftime.
Oakland's first half was fueled by a strong bench performance, with 13 bench points. Getting to the free throw line was key for the Golden Grizzlies, too. They shot 11 free throws in the first half, hitting eight.
Detroit came out of halftime firing, hitting their first five shots to reclaim a five-point lead. With six minutes to go in the third, Detroit led 44-39. Turnovers plagued the third quarter offense, resulting in a two-minute scoreless drought. Dean hit a three, bringing the game back within two points. It was Dean's first game back from injury, her first game since Dec. 30, 2021.
The game kept close to conclude the third quarter. Two free throws from Dean brought the Detroit lead down to one, 51-50 entering the fourth.
The Titans went on a 5-0 run, grabbing their largest lead of the day, six points.
Aaliyah McQueen hit a free throw, then a deep three to bring Oakland back to down one. Following a UDM free throw, Luchenbach hit a spinning layup in the post to tie the game at 57. With that shot, Luchenbach hit double-figures for the fifth straight game.
The following possession, Oakland forced a shot clock violation, giving them the chance to tie the game after the media timeout. Beatty drained a three after the timeout, getting the lead back for Oakland. The Titans were without a point for three minutes, and Oakland went on a 6-0 run. Detroit broke the cold spell with a Washington jumper, but Folley answered with a floater to give Oakland a four-point lead.
Janna Lewis converted an and-one for Detroit, then Beatty hit one of her free throws after being intentionally fouled.
Breanna Perry grabbed the rebound, forced a jump ball which went to Oakland and then Folley hit both free throws after being fouled to secure the win.
Lewis missed a three, Dean grabbed the rebound and Oakland improved to 7-3 in conference play with the four-point win. Oakland's next opponent is Robert Morris. The Colonials host Oakland on Friday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.
