ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies fell to Detroit Mercy 72-69 in a nail-biting rivalry game at OU Credit Union O'rena, despite a late push with 23 fourth-quarter points. The game featured eight ties and 14 lead changes, underscoring the closely contested nature of the matchup as Oakland fell just short of a win.
Oakland began the first quarter by overcoming an early deficit with efficient shooting beyond the arc. After the Titans took a 4-0 lead with two fastbreak layups,
Makenzie Luehring's 3-pointer at 6:11 put Oakland on the board. Luehring, who achieved a career-high total of 33 points, was instrumental from the start as she tallied her fifth consecutive game of 20-plus points.
Midway through the quarter, Oakland capitalized on their defensive stops to shift momentum.
Sereniti Roberts-Adams' free throws at 5:15 tied the game, and
Aalyssa Rogers' jumper at 4:16 extended the lead to 7-4. Luehring further widened the gap with two more 3-pointers, giving Oakland a 13-6 advantage.
The quarter concluded with the Titans narrowing the deficit slightly with a late layup, but Oakland maintained control with a 13-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter began with Oakland holding a narrow lead, but Detroit Mercy quickly gained momentum with a layup from Jasmine Edwards and a 3-pointer from Kailee Davis, taking a 14-13 lead. Oakland responded with
Sereniti Roberts-Adams scoring a layup to regain the lead, 15-14. The teams traded baskets, with Luehring hitting a crucial 3-pointer at 4:21 to put Oakland ahead 24-22, adding to her first half tally of 20 points.
Anna Lassan hit a jumper with just 21 seconds left, trimming Oakland's lead to one point. Despite the back-and-forth exchanges, Oakland managed to finish the quarter in front. The quarter concluded with Oakland narrowly ahead, with the score at 30-29.
The third quarter began with Roberts-Adams making an early layup, giving Oakland a slight edge at 32–29. The Titans quickly responded with a three-pointer by Davis, tying the game.
Layla Gold then connected on a three-pointer, keeping the score even at 37–37. Notably, Roberts-Adams achieved her first double-double of the season during this quarter.
As the quarter progressed, Oakland maintained its competitiveness, with Luehring and
Lianna Baxter contributing with a bucket each, allowing the home team to take a brief lead at 39–37. UDM countered with a series of free throws and a fast-break layup by Nisea Burrell, shifting the momentum.
Despite Oakland's efforts, including another layup from Luehring, the Titans extended their lead with a late three-pointer by Aaliyah McQueen. The quarter ended with the Titans ahead 54-46, leaving Oakland trailing as they headed into the final quarter.
The final quarter began with Oakland narrowing the gap as Gold converted a layup just 26 seconds into play, bringing the score to 54-48. Despite an early push from the Titans, who managed a three-pointer by Davis at 8:56, Oakland responded with a strong presence in the paint. Gold and Baxter contributed crucial points, keeping Oakland within striking distance.
Midway through the quarter, Roberts-Adams and Luehring combined efforts to close the gap further, with Luehring's free throws bringing the score to 59-54. The teams exchanged baskets, with Oakland's defensive plays, including a steal by Luehring at 6:41, keeping the game within reach. With just over three minutes left, Baxter's layup tied the game at 65, showcasing Oakland's resilience.
As the quarter wound down, Luehring added pivotal free throws and a layup that kept the score tight. However, a late layup by Davis and a turnover by Oakland allowed UDM to hold a slight edge, concluding the game with a 72-69 victory for the visitors. Oakland's offensive efforts in the paint and defensive stops kept the score close, but the game ended with the Titans maintaining their lead.
Luehring scored 33 points, hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc, and converted 9 of 10 free throws. Her performance made her one of two Horizon League players to drop 30+ points in a game this season. Roberts-Adams collected 10 rebounds, including 8 on the defensive side, and added 10 points. Gold tallied 14 points and grabbed four rebounds.
Filippa Goula distributed four assists and recorded five rebounds as well.
Looking ahead, the Oakland team will travel to face IU Indy on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The matchup is set for 6:30 p.m. at a venue in Indianapolis, Indiana.
