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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Despite a game and career-high 31 points from sophomore Dominique Dixon (Detroit, MI/Renaissance), the Detroit women's basketball team was narrowly edged by No. 21 Green Bay, 69-62 on New Year's Eve in both team's Horizon League opener.

Dixon was a career-best 12-of-18 from the field, while also hitting 3-of-4 from behind the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Her 31 points was the first 30-point performance by a Titan since Molly Peterman had 35 against UIC in 2002.

“It was great that we put ourselves in a position to win the game at the end,” said head coach Autumn Rademacher. “Unfortunately, we were not able to pull it out. They made some huge baskets at the end, but I am just so proud of my team's effort. They withstood a lot of distractions, playing on New Year's Eve and the crowd, and this team was able to tune all of that out and play their game.”

Sophomore Yar Shayok (Ottawa, ON/Hillcrest) pulled down 11 rebounds, the sixth time this season she has been in double digits in that category, while scoring six points and coming away with two steals and two blocks. Junior Lauren Allen (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester) played well defensively recording a career-best six steals, while adding six points, six assists and four rebounds.

With the score tied at 47-all with nine minutes to go, the Titans (6-6, 0-1 HL) reeled off five-straight points thanks to a 3-pointer and a layup by Dixon. Green Bay (12-1, 1-0 HL) then nailed a three that was matched by junior Britney Murphy's (Saginaw, MI/Arthur Hill) trey to once again give UDM a five-point advantage, 55-50, with 5:47 to go.

The Phoenix were able to get back in the game with a 9-0 run to jump out in front by four, 59-55, with three minutes left, a lead that Detroit was just not able to overcome.

“We played really hard and we knew that we would have to play very well on every possession against this team,” said Rademacher. “Defensively, that was our focus and we did job and we were able to extend a little bit and turn them over a few times which really accelerated our offense.

The Titans forced 16 turnovers, while only turning it over 14 times against a Phoenix squad that came into the game leading the league with a +10.4 turnover margin.

Detroit did get within one possession as they continued to fight until the very end. Dixon connected on a basket to trim it to 59-57 with 2:33 left. She also sank a trey with 30 seconds left to make it a five-point deficit, 65-60, while sophomore Demeisha Fambro (Detroit, MI/Crockett Tech) again got Detroit within five, 67-62, on a bucket with 16 seconds to go, but that was as close as Detroit could get in the final minute as Green Bay hit all six of its free throws down the stretch.

Detroit got down early as Green Bay raced out to an 11-4 lead in the first five minutes of play, but that was when the red, white and blue showed they were here to play scoring eight straight to take its first lead of the game, 12-11. Dixon started that run with an old-fashioned three-point play getting to the rim and connecting on a layup as she was fouled. Murphy then hit a three and that was followed by a jumper from Allen.

From there, the Titans and Phoenix traded one-point leads, but with UDM down by one, 17-16, the Titans opened its biggest advantage of the game going on a 7-0 run, ending with a layup from Fambro as she got inside to put Detroit up, 23-17, with 9:15 to go in the half. Green Bay was able to chip away at the lead, but the visiting Titans still took a 31-29 tally into the half.

Green Bay looked like it was going to blow the game open in the second period scoring eight straight to take a 41-33 lead, but Detroit would not go away as Dixon netted six-straight and the Titans eventually tied it at 47 with nine minutes left in the game.

“I couldn't be more pleased with the effort, but now we have to move on to Milwaukee,” added Rademacher.

The Titans return to action on Sunday as Detroit opens 2011 in Milwaukee against the Panthers. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m., at the Klotsche Center.

Game Notes:
Dixon's 12 field goals were the most by a Titan since Shayok had 11 at Oakland in last year's season opener… Even with the great effort, Detroit fell to 1-18 all-time in Green Bay with its lone win in the Horizon League Championship on Mar. 9, 1997…The Titans were a perfect 5-of-5 from the line, while Green Bay was 17-of-19…Detroit scored 21 points off turnovers...All seven players that played for UDM scored marking the first time since the last meeting against Green Bay (2/4/10) that every Titan that played scored with eight Titans netting points last year...Allen's six steals were the most since Jones had six last year at Valparaiso.