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HLN Highlights HLN Postgame With Coach Rademacher Postgame Press Conference

DETROIT -- Behind a devastating 30-4 second-half run, the Detroit women's basketball team ran its winning streak to four straight as the Titans downed Butler, 72-60, on Thursday night from Dick Vitale Court in Calihan Hall.

The win moved Detroit to 5-8 on the year and 1-0 in the Horizon League, while Butler fell to 4-8, 0-1 in conference play.

Freshman Shareta Brown (Grand Blanc, MI/Grand Blanc) led the way with her fifth double-double of the season totaling a game-high 23 points and 13 rebounds, including 19 points and nine rebounds in the second half. The rookie was 7-of-11 from the field and 9-of-14 from the free throw line. It marked the third time this season she crossed the 20-point plateau.

Senior Jalesa Jones (Detroit, MI/Pershing) tallied 17 points, four assists and three steals, while junior Yar Shayok (Ottawa, ON/Hillcrest) just missed a double-double ending with 11 rebounds and nine points.

Detroit took control of the game with a 30-4 offensive surge in the second half. Down by five, 38-33, at the 17:07 mark, the red, white and blue turned it on with Brown leading the way. She scored 16 points during that charge and could not be stopped inside grabbing five rebounds.

The defense stepped up holding Butler to 1-of-9 from the field with five turnovers, while the Bulldogs missed all five of their free throw attempts.

When Brown was not scoring, it was the other Titans doing damage as Jones had nine points, sophomore Senee Shearer (Detroit, MI/Pershing) nailed a trey and Shayok added two.

Brown stared the spurt by scoring seven straight to put UDM back on top, 40-38. Four straight free throws by Jones came next and then it was Brown again with six straight as the Titans took a 10-point lead, 50-40, with 11:37 left.

Shayok got in the mix with a layup and then Brown was fouled, but showed her strength by putting it in and then connecting on the free throw for the old fashioned three-point play. Jones added a basket and Shearer ended the offensive explosion with a 3-pointer and the Titans had a 60-40 lead with 8:47 left.

Detroit ran its lead to as high as 21, 63-42, with under eight minutes left before Butler chipped away to get within 11, 65-54, with 2:46 on the clock.

Sophomore Megan Hatter (Howell, MI/Howell) finished with eight points and four rebounds, while Shearer added five points and four assists.

UDM shot 42.1% from the field compared to 33.9% from Butler, while outscoring the Bulldogs in the paint, 32-20.

Detroit jumped out to an early 9-2 lead as Hatter hit a pair of 3-pointers to lead the offense, while the defense forced two turnovers and held Butler to just 1-of-5 shooting.

The Bulldogs then went on a 13-3 run to take a 15-12 lead midway through the first half. From there, both teams traded the lead and the half ended in a 30-all tie as junior Demeisha Fambro (Detroit, MI/Crockett Tech) streaked down the court for a layup as time expired.

The Titans will put their winning streak on the line on Saturday as the red, white and blue host Valparaiso on New Year's Eve. Game time is set for Noon with a special Holiday treat to all fans – FREE ADMISSION – as Detroit looks to take down the Crusaders.

Game Notes:
Detroit now leads the overall series 33-28 and posted its first win at home against Butler since Feb. 5, 2004, a span of seven games…It was UDM's biggest win over Butler since an 84-59 tally on Jan. 31, 2002...Shearer's three-game 20-point scoring streak came to an end, as she tied current head coach Autumn Rademacher as the last Titan to do it, with Rademacher accomplishing the feat as a junior during the 1995-96 season…Brown's career high is 25, set in the season opener at Indiana State…Hatter has now scored in 10-straight games...Detroit is now 2-2 in HL openers under Coach Rademacher.