DETROIT (1/15/22) - Freshman Emma Trawally Porta just missed a double-double grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds with eight points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field with an assist and steal. Graduate student Brandi Washington poured in a team-high 14 points hitting 3-for-6 from 3-point range and 3-for-4 from the free throw line with two steals as Detroit Mercy fell 72-56 to defending #HLWBB champion Wright State on Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall. 

Junior Imani McNeal also added eight points going a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe with five boards and two steals while sophomore Irene Murua chipped in with seven points on 3-for-5 shooting with six rebounds. Freshman Akyia Baker continued to be a spark off the bench with six points and five rebounds with two assists.

The third quarter proved to be the difference in the game. After trailing by two points at the half, 27-25, Wright State (2-12, 1-8 HL) opened the second half with a 13-1 run to move ahead by 10 at  38-28 by the first media timeout. The Raiders went on to outscore Detroit Mercy (0-16, 0-9 HL)  21-10 overall in the frame to take a commanding 53-37 lead heading into the fourth.

Detroit Mercy turned up the defensive pressure to open the fourth quarter leading to a 13-6 run to pull within nine points at 59-50. However, WSU extended the lead from the free throw line down the stretch to push the lead back over double digits en route to their first league win of the season.

In the first half, WSU added the first six points to tie the game at 17-17 and outscored Titans 8-4 to take a one point lead, 25-21. Detroit Mercy responded with a 6-0 spurt to take a 27-25 lead at halftime. 

Washington's 3-pointer followed by a Murua lay-up capped off an 11-0 run giving the Titans the lead at 11-6. The Titans then added another six points for a 17-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Detroit Mercy travels to arch-rival Oakland for a Metro Series showdown on Thursday, Jan.20 at 7 p.m.