DAYTON, Ohio – Despite leading for over 22 minutes and taking pver early in the second half, the Golden Grizzlies fell to Wright State, 60-53, on Monday night at the Ervin J. Nutter Center.
Oakland started the game strong, taking a 14-11 lead after the first quarter behind aggressive defense, snagging three steals, and efficient inside scoring, shooting .429 (6-of-14 FG) from the field.
Maddy Skorupski led the way early, attacking the rim and setting up her teammates.
Leah Bullard provided a spark off the bench, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 from the field to add eight points.
On the defensive end, the Golden Grizzlies forced Wright State into early turnovers, limiting the Raiders' ability to establish offensive rhythm.
Wright State responded in the second quarter, outscoring Oakland 16-8 to take a 27-22 lead into halftime. The Raiders controlled the glass, holding a 21-17 rebounding edge, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities. Meanwhile, Oakland struggled from the perimeter, shooting just 1-for-5 from three-point range in the first half. Despite the offensive lull, the Golden Grizzlies remained within striking distance heading into the break.
Oakland came out firing in the third quarter, dominating the period with a 22-10 scoring advantage. Skorupski, who finished with a team-high 14 points, fueled the offensive surge, while
Madison Royal-Davis and
Dani Grim stepped up with key baskets. Royal-Davis added nine points, four rebounds, and three steals, while Grim contributed eight points and three rebounds. The Golden Grizzlies strung together a 9-0 run midway through the quarter, flipping a seven-point deficit into a 44-37 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
However, Wright State stormed back in the fourth, outscoring Oakland 23-9 to complete the comeback. A crucial three-pointer by Lauren Scott with under three minutes remaining put the Raiders ahead 52-49, and they never relinquished the lead. Wright State thrived at the free-throw line, making 15-of-16 (93.8%) compared to Oakland's 9-of-16 (56.3%), a key factor down the stretch. Amaya Staton led all scorers with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Scott also finished with 15 points for the Raiders.
Both teams shot .404 from the field, but Wright State held a slight edge on the boards, 35-31. Oakland finished with 34 points in the paint compared to Wright State's 36 but was unable to overcome late-game turnovers and missed opportunities at the line.
The Golden Grizzlies aim to bounce back at home in their next competition as they host Youngstown State on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.
