DETROIT (3/5/2013) -- There are a few games that all student-athletes point to that they want to win and near the top of that list is usually Senior Day. A day to celebrate and say thanks to the years of service, hard work and dedication that they have put in during their time. A chance to bring the players out on the court with their families for maybe one last ovation on the home court that they have poured their sweat on.

For seniors Demeisha Fambro and Yar Shayok, that day was last Saturday and the pair took care of business, helping the Titans to a 66-40 victory over Milwaukee. The win made sure Detroit would have a home playoff game in the Horizon League Quarterfinals.

“We needed to get this win,” said Fambro. “We needed to let our teammates follow our lead and come out and get the win.”

“It is not every day that my family can come,” said Shayok. “Because of the distance, it is like 10 or 11 hours depending on the weather, this was the second time that most of my family came and even some of my brothers aren't here,” said Shayok after the game.

The pair has seen the transformation of a last place team in the Horizon League to a championship contender. In 2009-10 their first full year of college basketball (Shayok redshirted after two games during the 2008-09 season), both players played roles in guiding UDM to a 14-4 record in the HL and a share of third place, beating a nationally-ranked Green Bay team along the way. They were also a part of last year's 20-win squad – the first in 15 years – that made a run to the Horizon League Championship and recorded a WNIT appearance.

For Fambro, her time at Detroit has seen some peaks and valleys, but as a senior member of the team, she has saved her best for last. Her 11.0 ppg., is a career-high and second on the team and 18th in the Horizon League. She has been in double figures 14 times and posted her fourth career-20 point game with 20 in a home win over UIC. She also has career bests in rebounds (4.6), assists (41) and steals (26).

“She has had quite a roller coaster for her first three years and for her to have her best year now with momentum is exciting,” said Coach Autumn Rademacher.

In her career, Fambro has played in 118 games, recently passing Coach Rademacher for the fifth most in school history. She has tallied 874 points, 341 rebounds, 108 assists and 71 steals in her four years and is currently 11th in the UDM record books with 96 three-pointers.

Shayok has quietly put together one of the best careers in Titan history. She is just the second Titan to ever record 1,000 career points and rebounds (UDM Hall-of-Famer Cheryl Williams is the other) and currently stands 15th in school history with 1,150 points and second pulling down 1,089 rebounds. The boards are also the fourth most by a player in HL history, and she also has 107 blocks for fourth in Detroit galore.

“I am just really happy that on senior day, she was able to go out and perform in front of her family, who live 10 hours away and don't get a chance to see her play often,” said Coach Rademacher.

She has been recognized by the Horizon League in every year she has played, earning HL Newcomer of the Year and Second Team All-League in 2010, All-Defensive Team in 2011 and the conference's Sixth Player of the Year in 2012.

She started her career recording 11.8 ppg., and 9.7 rpg., as a redshirt freshman and then crashed the glass at 10.2 rpg., as a sophomore, a number that ranks fourth all-time in a single season at UDM. On Senior Day this past week, she poured in a season-high 23 points – her third career 20-point game – and tied her career high with 17 rebounds in posting her 30th double-double.

Fambro, Shayok and the Titans know they still have some work to do, but their contributions have already been felt in Calihan Hall and they will leave a legacy that will be hard to replace.