Rochester, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies square-up for a rematch with Purdue Fort Wayne as they conclude a three-game road stretch.

Oakland had in what many ways was one of their most complete games as they outlasted Robert Morris 64-58 on Jan. 7. 

Both ends of the floor seemed to click, especially in the third quarter where they pulled away behind an offensive blitz where they shot .667 FG% (8-12 FG) as a team while limiting Robert Morris to just a single three-pointer and five turnovers in the quarter.

With rebounding as a newfound strength for the Golden Grizzlies, they extended their streak of 40-plus rebound games to three, pulling down 41 against RMU behind Qualres-Daniels' 10 rebounds, her second consecutive game with double-digit boards. It also marked the third straight game at least one Golden Grizzly has pulled down double-digit rebounds as well, with Miriam Ibezim, Linda Van Schaik, and Quarles-Daniels all setting season-highs in rebounds recently.

The Golden Grizzlies rank fourth in rebounds per game (36.9) and first in offensive rebounds per game (15), averaging almost three more than the second-place ranked Cleveland State (12.4 orpg).

Oakland played with a contagious energy, flying around the court for loose balls and making the plays needed to win. That same energy will be needed as they wrap up their season series against a solid Purdue Fort Wayne team who they have already gone up against this season. 

The teams initially met back in November in Oakland's first league game of the season. Despite an offensive clinic by Oakland guard Markyia McCormick, who scored a season-high 26 points (9-16 FG, 6-12 3FG), Purdue Fort Wayne had five double-digit scorers en route to a 84-66 victory over Oakland. The Mastodons lit up the floor from range, nailing 14 triples (14-26 3FG) and shooting over .500 3FG% for just the second time this season.

Oakland still holds the all-time advantage over the Mastodons with a 13-9 record. Oakland has also won eight out of the last 10 against PFW and haven't lost at Gates Sports Center since Jan. of 2013.

Since their last matchup with PFW, Oakland's half court and three-point defense has trended upwards. In their last two games, Oakland has limited their opponents to 11-35 3FG (.315 3FG%) from deep, including forcing RMU to shoot 0-5 3FG in the first half of their matchup, and 3-16 3FG for the entire game. 

While Oakland's defense will have to run PFW off the three-point line if they hope to emerge victorious, they will also need their own shooters to step up and match the potential barrage of threes the Mastodons are sure to put up. 

Oakland is more than capable of winning an offensive-centered game, sitting in third in total points per game (74.7) among all Horizon League teams. Oakland has four of the top 25 scorers in the league in McCormick (12.2 ppg), Quarles-Daniels (12.1 ppg), Van Schaik (10.1 ppg), and Skorupski (9.7 ppg).

Three-point shooting is another area where Oakland can be streaky, but dangerous. Skorupski (.420 3FG%), Jasmine Dupree-Hebert (.410 3FG%), Alexis Johnson (.360 3FG%), and McCormick (.340 3FG%) all can shoot the lights out with efficiency. Van Schaik and Kennedie Montue also add even more depth to the Golden Grizzlies' abundance of shooters.

SCOUTING THE MASTODONS

PFW comes into the game having lost two of their last three games, most recently a 56-60 loss to Detroit Mercy on Jan. 7, where they slumped from deep going 6-31 (.194 3FG%) from deep.

Sliding a few spots down the ladder, PFW sits in fourth place in the Horizon League (10-6, 4-2 HL) after starting 3-0 in league play.

The Mastodons live and die by the three pointer, ranking second in the league in threes attempted (406), threes made (145), and percentage from deep (.357 3FG%). They also defend the three point line extremely well, allowing opponents to hit only 26.1% of their threes.

Guard Amellia Bromenschenkel leads the charge for PFW, averaging 13.4 ppg which ranks sixth in the league. Shayla Sellers (11 ppg) and Audra Emerson (8.1) also serve as X-factors for the team. 
 
Catch the final matchup between these two teams on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Gates Sports Center on ESPN+.

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