Box Score

Behind a dominating performance from sophomore Yar Shayok (Ottawa, ON/Hillcrest), who collected a double-double with game-highs in both rebounds (14) and points (26), the Detroit Titans women's basketball team captured a 74-65 victory over Oakland Friday afternoon at the O'Rena in Rochester.

Shayok is not the only Titan who scored in double figures as freshman Demeisha Fambro (Detroit, MI/Crockett Tech) added 17, senior Brigid Mulroy (West Bloomfield, MI/Marian) netted 14 and sophomore Jalesa Jones (Detroit, MI/Pershing) scored 12 in Detroit's season opening win.

“Yar had a good game today," said Detroit head coach Autumn Rademacher. "She is the most competitive intense player I've ever coached and she really stepped it up tonight.”

The Titans set the tone in the second half as they scored 10 unanswered points in the opening minutes, which included a 3-pointer from Fambro. That basket pushed Detroit ahead (38-36) for the first time in the game and the Titans would not relinquish their lead the remainder of the contest.

Mulroy started a 13-0 scoring run for the Titans with just over 11 minutes remaining as she made one of her three treys of the afternoon off an assist from Jones. Shayok added four points during that span, with the last basket giving Detroit its largest lead of the game, 60-44, with just under eight minutes to play.

The Titans held on to their double digit lead until freshman Victoria Lipscomb cut OU's deficit to nine (59-68) with two minutes remaining. In the closing minutes, Shayok made both attempts at the line and Fambro had a 2-for-4 showing from the charity stripe and also added a lay-up with eight seconds on the clock to help secure Detroit's season opening win.

The score was tied three times in the opening half, with the last happening after Jones made her second free throw attempt to knot the game at 15 with 12 minutes left. OU had its largest advantage of the game after freshman Bethany Watterworth converted a 3-point play to put the score at 31-21 at the 3:34 mark. But, Shayok was able to pull UDM within three in the closing minute after making a lay-up off an assist from freshman Kassandra Hooten (Moorhead, MN/Moorhead) to put the score at 34-31, which is what the scoreboard read at the half.

Watterworth led OU in scoring with 23, however, the Titans were able to hold her to just five points in the second stanza after Watterworth led all scorers at the break. She also grabbed a game second-best 11 rebounds, while senior Melissa Jeltema added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Golden Grizzlies.

Detroit shot a resounding 60 percent from the field in the second half, compared to a 29 percent showing from OU. On the afternoon UDM shot 46 percent, while OU ended with a 25-of-70 showing (36 percent). The Titans won the battle of the boards, 42-36, while the Grizzlies dished out 20 assists compared to Detroit's 16.

The Titans will return to action when they open up their home slate at Calihan Hall Sunday, Nov. 15 against #10 Michigan State at noon. The contest against the Spartans is the first of a doubleheader for the Titans as the men's team will host Western Michigan at 3 p.m. Fans, please remember that all kids (18 and under) get in FREE to both games on Sunday.