Golden Grizzlies Look to Climb Standings as they Host the Raiders

ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies return home to play their final two games of the regular season, starting with a showdown against Wright State.

Oakland scored a crucial win over Milwaukee on Feb. 24. The Golden Grizzlies reached peak defensive form in the game, forcing 25 Milwaukee turnovers. Defensive pressure is Oakland's biggest strength, and with the right balance of aggression and knowledge of when to fall back, the Golden Grizzlies are a force to reckon with.

The offense of Oakland also flowed in near-perfect harmony with their defense, shooting .381 (24-of-63) from the floor. The Golden Grizzlies scored 30 points off turnovers by the Panthers, leading to a bevy of transition opportunities that helped them outscore Milwaukee in the paint 32 to 26.

Moving into another high-stakes game late in the season, Oakland looks to duplicate their latest performance against Wright State.

Last time the two teams met Wright State handed Oakland a 68-80 road loss. Oakland had three players in double-digits in the game, with Kennedie Montue, Brooke Quarles-Daniels, and Linda Van Schaik all scoring 13 points. The Golden Grizzlies shot .400 (26-of-65) as a team, but Wright State was even more efficient, going 26-of-50 (.520) from the field.

League-leading scorer Alexis Hutchinson scored 21 (8-of-13) in the matchup, but four other Wright State players scored over nine points in the game as well. For Oakland to win this upcoming game, their defense will need to show its teeth in the same way it did against Milwaukee, making sure that the Raiders' ball-handlers are uncomfortable and under pressure.

In all-time meetings, Oakland is only 5-20 against Wright State, but the Golden Grizzlies have emerged victorious in two of their last three home games against the Raiders.

With a win, Oakland could move ahead in the standings even more. A win and a Detroit Mercy loss would move the teams into a tie for seventh place in the conference. If Oakland wins both of their final two games, a chance is still available for them to reach as high as the sixth seed.

SCOUTING THE RAIDERS

Wright State has lost two of their last three games, although they most recently broke a two-game losing skid by beating Robert Morris 76-68 on Wednesday, Feb. 21.

This game is also crucial for the Raiders, who currently sit in third place in the Horizon League. With a win, they can clinch the number three seed, but with a loss or a win by Purdue Fort Wayne the Mastodons would take their spot.

The Raiders are dangerous from beyond the arc, ranking second in the league in three-pointers made per game (7.9). With Hutchinson averaging 18.7 ppg, almost two points higher than the next person, their offense can get going in the blink of an eye.

The Golden Grizzlies will defend the Blacktop in their second-to-last game of the regular season against Wright State on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#25 Kennedie Montue: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#5 Brooke Quarles-Daniels: PG; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#25 Kennedie Montue
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: G

#5 Brooke Quarles-Daniels
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: PG

Players Mentioned

#25 Kennedie Montue

#5 Brooke Quarles-Daniels

Players Mentioned

#25 Kennedie Montue

#5 Brooke Quarles-Daniels