DETROIT (1/27/22) – The Detroit Mercy women's basketball team opens a road swing with pair of games beginning at Horizon League leader Youngstown State followed by Robert Morris. Titans and Penguins tip off on Friday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. followed by the Colonials on Sunday, Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. on ESPN+. Both games will be broadcast live from the Beeghly Center and UPMC Events Center on ESPN+.
 
Notes:
SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE:
Youngstown State sits atop the Horizon League standings with a 11-1 record and 17-2 overall mark. The Penguins are led by senior forward Lilly Ritz who leads the team and ranks third in the league in scoring (17.6) and second in the league in rebounds (9.4). Redshirt senior Chelsea Olson leads the team and the league in assists per game (4.6).
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN:
YSU leads the overall series 25-23 with the Penguins winning the last seven consecutive meetings with games being canceled last season.
 
GAME 1 REWIND VS YSU:
Detroit Mercy 56 vs Youngstown State 64 (11/20/21)
Irene Murua tallied 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. Graduate senior Daija Moses had 12 points and six rebounds and graduate senior Brandi Washington netted 10 points. with five boards, two assists, a block and a steal as Detroit Mercy put the pressure on all game long, coming away with 14 steals, as the Titans fell to Youngstown State, 64-56, on Saturday at Calihan Hall.
 
A LOOK AT ROBERT MORRIS:
Robert Morris is in eighth place in the league standings with a 5-7 mark and 7-10 overall record. The Colonials are led by senior guard Esther Castro who leads the team in scoring (10.9 ppg) and assists (2.6) along with graduate student guard Nina Augustin. Sophomore forward Sol Castro leads the team in rebounds per game (5.5).
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN:
RMU hold a 1-0 series lead as the previous match up in November was this the first meeting between the two schools.
 
GAME 1 REWIND VS RMU:
Detroit Mercy 46 vs Robert Morris 55 (11/18/21)
Irene Murua scored a team-high 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting while grabbing a team-best seven rebounds. Sydney Searcy added nine points followed by Daija Moses with eight points and four rebounds as Detroit Mercy dropped the home and Horizon League opener to Robert Morris, 55-46, at Calihan Hall. Imani McNeal turned in a solid overall effort with six points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals while Brandi Washington chipped in with seven points, four rebounds and team-high three steals.
 
LAST TIME OUT – TITANS COME UP SHORT AGAINST OAKLAND IN METRO SERIES THRILLER: Detroit Mercy placed four players in double figures led by sophomore Irene Murua who scored a career-high 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 2-of-3 from the free throw line with five rebounds, two assists and two steals as the Titans dropped a hard fought 66-62 Metro Series battle to visiting arch-rival Oakland on Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall.

HOT FROM THE FLOOR: Against Oakland (1/22), Detroit Mercy shot 24-for-44 (54.5%) from the field which marked the first time since Feb. 20, 2017 the Titans shot 50% or better from the field going 33-for-63 vs Wright State.
 
TURN EM OVER: Detroit Mercy opponents have committed a league-high 298 turnovers against the Titans at 18.6 per game which leads in the league.
 
I'LL TAKE THAT: Detroit Mercy ranks second in the Horizon League in total steals (158) and steals per game (9.88). The Titans have reached double-digit steals in seven games with a season-high 15 steals at Akron (11/29). Against RMU (11/18), 9-of-12 players who entered the game recorded at least one steal led by Brandi Washington with three and Irene McNeal with two for a total of 12. Detroit Mercy then posted 14 steals against Youngstown State (11/20), 13 against WMU (12/8) and at Purdue Fort Wayne (1/8) and 12 vs North Dakota.
 
 
CLEANING THE GLASS: Detroit Mercy ranks third in the league in offensive rebounds per game (12.4). The Titans grabbed a season-high 19 at Canisius (11/23) and season second-best 18 against UIC (12/4) and 18 at Akron (11/29). They also rank fourth in rebounding defensive average per game (33.3). Murua leads the team and ranks 12th in the league in rebounds (5.9).
 
WASHINGTON FEELING IT: After missing the PFW game, Brandi Washington has reached doubles figures in four consecutive games. She a solid return to action pouring in a career-high 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 from 3-point range with six rebounds and two steals vs NKU (1/13). She followed that performance scoring a team-high 14 points hitting 3-for-6 from 3-point range and 3-for-4 from the free throw line with four rebounds and two steals vs Wright State (1/15). Over that two-game span, she in averaged 17 ppg, shooting 6-for-12 (50%) from long range, 6-for-9 from the free throw line (66.6%) with 10 boards and four steals. Washington also scored a team-high 14 points at Oakland (1/20) and followed with 11 points against the Golden Grizzlies (1/22).
 
TRIFECTA YOU BET YA: Washington leads the team in 3-pointers (26) and has connected on a season-best four triples twice against UIC (12/4) and WMU (12/8). She also ranks ninth in the league in 3-point field goals per game (1.7). As a team, Detroit Mercy hit a season-high seven against North Dakota (12/18).
 
SERIOUS SWIPES: Sydney Searcy leads the team and the league in total steals (33) and steals per game (2.8) which ranks 25th nationally. She posted a career-high six steals twice at Valpo (12/21) and against YSU (11/20). Brandi Washington is second on the team (21) and ranks sixth in the league in steals per game (1.9) with a career-best five at Akron (11/29).
 
BLOCK PARTY: Emma Trawally Porta ranks fifth in the league in blocks per game (1.3). She posted a career-high five blocks vs NKU (1/13) and seven blocks over a two-game span with four blocks against IUPUI (12/2) and three at Akron (11/29).
 
CHARITY STRIPE PRODUCTION: Detroit Mercy has shot over 70% from the free throw line over the last five games. Despite the setback to WMU, Detroit Mercy shot a season-best 10-of-11 (90.9%) from the free throw line. The Titans shot a season second-best 78.6% (11-of-14) against UIC (12/4).
 
GET TO THE LINE: Three Titans are shooting over 70% from the free throw line in Janna Lewis (75.0) followed by Murua (71.4) and McNeal (71.1). Moses also is 14-of-17 at an 82.4% clip.
 
LEWIS IS A FORCE OFF THE BENCH: Janna Lewis has reached double figures in four of the last six game coming off the bench. She converted on three and-1 opportunities at Purdue Fort Wayne (1/8) en route to her career-high 18 points off the bench on 6-of-10 shooting and 6-of-7 from the free throw line with three steals.
 
DYNAMIC SCORING BALANCE: Searcy leads the team in scoring (10.5 ppg), followed by Washington (9.9), Murua (7.4), Monique Pruitt (6.8), and Janna Lewis (7.6).
 
DROPPIN' DIMES: Imani McNeal ranks second on the team in assists (26) and assists per game (1.7) with a career-high four against Robert Morris (11/18). Daija Moses also ranks third in assists (24) and assists per game (1.6). She dished out a career-high nine assists with six points and five rebounds against UIC (12/4/21).
 
DISH IT OUT: Sydney Searcy leads the team in assists (26) and assists per game (2.2). She dished out 10 assists (five per game) over a two-game span against WMU (12/8) and North Dakota (12/18).
 
MURUA LEADS THE WAY FROM THE FLOOR: Irene Murua leads the team in field goal percentage shooting 48.0% from the field. She scored a career-high 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 2-of-3 from the free throw line with five rebounds, two assists and two steals against Oakland (1/22).
 
HELP IS ON THE WAY NEXT SEASON: The team has added transfer Ambranette Storr from Grand Canyon University.
Moberly Area Community College:
• Named the Newcomer of the Year as a freshman averaging 9.6 ppg, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Greyhounds as a mid-season transfer from Drake.
 
High School:
• Finished high school campaign with 2,913 career points that ranks in Illinois' all-time top-20 prep scorers
• Averaged 31.8 ppg during senior year to rank first in Illinois and seventh in the nation
• Named all-state first team by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and the Champaign News Gazette during senior campaign
• Also Prep Girls Hoops Illinois All-State Team selection while being named the Kankakee Daily Journal Player of the Year and an Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-Star as a senior
• Two-time Associated Press First-Team selection and 3A All-State selection (2019, 2020)
• USA Today First-Team Illinois (2019)
• Helped lead team to 59-6 record over junior and senior seasons
 
SIZZLING SEARCY: Searcy just missed a double-double scoring a career-high 21 points while grabbing a career-best nine rebounds on 8-of-15 shooting and 4-of-6 from 3-point range with five assists and five steals against North Dakota (12/18). Against IUPUI (12/2) and UIC (12/4), she averaged 16.0 ppg scoring 18 points vs the Jags followed by 14 points against the Flames. She shot a blistering 14-of-24 (58.3%) from the field with two 3-pointers, 11 rebounds and three steals. She also matched a season second best 18 points at Valpo (12/21).
 
CONSECUTIVE 3-POINTERS MADE STREAK COMES TO AN END AT 367 GAMES: Detroit Mercy made at least one 3-pointer in 367 consecutive games dating back to March 5, 2009. However, the Titans went 0-for-5 from long range at Purdue Fort Wayne on Jan. 8, 2022 ending the streak. Prior to that, the last game the Titans didn't sink one 3-pointer from the field was against Wright State on Feb. 28, 2009, when the team went 0-for-11 from beyond the arc.
 
EXTENDED BREAK: The game at PFW was the first action for Detroit Mercy for 17 days since playing at Valparaiso on Dec. 21. Due to Coivd-19 concerns within the program after the Christmas holiday break, the Titans' games at Green Bay (12/30) and New Year's Day showdown at Milwaukee (1/1) were forfeited. Additionally, Thursday's game at Cleveland State (1/6) was also canceled due to Coivd-19 concerns within both programs.
 
POWELL PASS THE ROCK: Tori Powell posted a career-high five assists at Valpo (12/21).
 
THE BANK IS OPEN: Against North Dakota, Trawally Porta banked in her first career 3-pointer off the glass from the top of the key.
 
MAKE IT A DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Murua posted her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds vs YSU (11/20) and followed with second consecutive double-double with 10 points and career-high 12 rebounds and four assists at Canisius (11/23).
 
TRAWALLY PORTA SHINES OFF THE BENCH: Emma Trawally Porta posted a career-high 10 points off the bench on 4-of-10 shooting with three blocks and two steals in just her third career game vs Akron (11/29).
 
PRUITT POURED IT IN: Monique Pruitt poured in a game and career-high 23 points on 7-for-18 shooting and 9-for-11 from the free throw line at Eastern Michigan last (11/13). She also added a game-high 17 points against WMU (12/8).
 
SOLID DEBUT: At Loyola, Murua led the way with a team-high 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting with four rebounds, three assists and three steals in her season debut for the Titans.
 
VIVA ESPAÑA: Ana Cabañas Llorens will join the Detroit women's basketball team as part of the 2022-23 recruiting class marking the fifth student-athlete from Spain to be on the roster for next season.

SEASON REWIND:
Detroit Mercy 50 at Oakland 80 (1/20/22)
Graduate student Brandi Washington scored in double figures for the third consecutive game with a team-high 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 on the free throw line. Graduate student Daija Moses just missed a double-double with 11 points matching a season-high eight rebounds while going 5-for-6 from the free throw line and 3-for-6 from the field as Detroit Mercy dropped a Metro Series game to arch-rival Oakland, 80-50.
 
Detroit Mercy 56 vs Wright State 72 (1/15/22)
Graduate 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.
 
Detroit Mercy 54 vs Northern Kentucky 74 (1/13/22)
Graduate student Brandi Washington had a solid return to action scoring a career-high 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 from 3-point range with six rebounds and two steals as Detroit Mercy fell 74-54 to visiting Northern Kentucky on Thursday night Calihan Hall. Graduate student Janna Lewis made the most of her time off the bench against her former team scoring in double figures for the third consecutive game with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting with three rebounds and two assists.
 
Detroit Mercy 57 at Purdue Fort Wayne (1/8/22) 
Graduate Student Janna Lewis posted a career-high 18 points off the bench on 6-of-10 shooting and 6-of-7 from the free throw line with three steals while sophomore Irene Murua just missed a double-double with 12 points and 8 rebounds on 4-of-8 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe as a shorthanded Detroit Mercy squad dropped a hard-fought battle at Purdue Fort Wayne, 62-57, on Saturday afternoon. Senior Monique Pruitt also reached double figures with 10 points and seven rebounds on 4-or-9 shooting and perfect 2-for-2 from the free throw line with four steals.
 
Detroit Mercy 57 at Valparaiso 69 (12/21/21)
Graduate student Sydney Searcy posted a team-high 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 2-for-5 from 3-point range with a career-high two blocks while matching a season and career-best six steals defensively. Graduate student Janna Lewis added 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting and 4-for-5 from the free throw line as Detroit Mercy fell short in the fourth quarter falling 69-57 at Valparaiso on Tuesday afternoon to conclude non-conference play.
 
Detroit Mercy 60 vs North Dakota 70 (12/18/21)
Graduate student Sydney Searcy just missed a double-double scoring a career-high 21 points while grabbing a career-best nine rebounds on 8-of-15 shooting and 4-of-6 from 3-point range with five assists and five steals as Detroit Mercy rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit but came up short falling 70-60 to visiting North Dakota on Saturday at Calihan Hall. Searcy has now dished out 10 assists over the last two games. Junior Imani McNeal added 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting while going 3-for-4 from the free throw line with three assists. Freshman Emma Trawally Porta chipped in with nine points going 6-for-8 from the charity stripe and connected on her first career 3-pointer while grabbing six boards.
 
Detroit Mercy 51 vs Western Michigan 58 (12/8/21)
Graduate Student Monique Pruitt posted a team-high and season second-best 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting and 3-of-4 from the free throw line with five rebounds as Detroit Mercy came out on the short end of a defensive battle falling 58-51 to visiting Western Michigan on Wednesday night at Calihan Hall. Graduate student Brandi Washington continued her hot shooting from 3-point range adding 12 points on 4-for-8 from downtown with four steals, three boards and two assists. Washington has now hit four 3-pointers in back-to-back games.
 
Detroit Mercy 64 vs UIC 68 (OT) (12/4/21)
Detroit Mercy had two players in double figures led by graduate student Brandi Washington who scored a team-high 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting from 3-point range with four rebounds and two steals while grad student Sydney Searcy added 14 points with six boards as the Titans dropped a 68-64 overtime thriller to visiting UIC at Calihan Hall. Grad student Daija Moses dished out a career-high nine assists with six points and five rebounds followed by Janna Lewis chipping in with nine points and six rebounds. For the game, Detroit Mercy (0-8, 0-4 HL) posted season highs in rebounds with 47 and in assists with 16 on 24 made baskets. The Titans also shot a season-best 11-for-14 from the free throw line (78.6%).
 
Detroit Mercy 52 vs IUPUI 87 (12/2/21)
Graduate student Sydney Searcy scored 14 second-half points finishing with a team-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, 1-for-2 from 3-point range while grabbing five rebounds and two steals as Detroit Mercy fell 87-52 to visiting IUPUI on Thursday night at Calihan Hall. Freshman Emma Trawally Porta added eight points going 4-for-6 from the field with six rebounds and career-high four blocks. She has now tallied seven blocks in the last two games.
 
Detroit Mercy 60 at Akron 67 (11/29/21)
Freshman Emma Trawally Porta posted a career-high 10 points off the bench on 4-of-10 shooting with three blocks and two steals while junior Imani McNeal also added 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting with six rebounds and four steals as Detroit Mercy mounted a last minute fourth quarter rally that came up short as the Titans fell 67-60 at Akron.
 
Detroit Mercy 55 at Canisius 64 (11/23/21)
Senior Monique Pruitt put forth a solid overall effort posting a team-high 16 points on 7-of-19 shooting with seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Sophomore Irene Murua also posted her second consecutive double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds and four assists as Detroit Mercy dropped a hard-fought non-conference game at Canisius (11/23). Graduate student Brandi Washington also poured in a team-high 16 points going 3-for-7 from 3-point range.
 
Detroit Mercy 56 vs Youngstown State 64 (11/20/21)
Irene Murua tallied 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. Graduate senior Daija Moses had 12 points and six rebounds and graduate senior Brandi Washington netted 10 points. with five boards, two assists, a block and a steal as Detroit Mercy put the pressure on all game long, coming away with 14 steals, as the Titans fell to Youngstown State, 64-56, on Saturday at Calihan Hall.
 
Detroit Mercy 46 vs Robert Morris 55 (11/18/21)
Irene Murua scored a team-high 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting while grabbing a team-best seven rebounds. Sydney Searcy added nine points followed by Daija Moses with eight points and four rebounds as Detroit Mercy dropped the home and Horizon League opener to Robert Morris, 55-46, at Calihan Hall. Imani McNeal turned in a solid overall effort with six points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals while Brandi Washington chipped in with seven points, four rebounds and team-high three steals.
 
Detroit Mercy 66 at Eastern Michigan 76 (11/9/21)
Monique Pruitt poured in a game and career-high 23 points on 7-for-18 shooting and 9-for-11 from the free throw line. Sydney Searcy also reached in double figures with 13 points as Detroit Mercy battle before falling to a late fourth quarter run at Eastern Michigan last Saturday (11/13).
 
Detroit Mercy 40 at Loyola 63 (11/9/21)
Sophomore Irene Murua put together a solid performance scoring 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting with four rebounds, three assists and three steals while Sydney Searcy added seven points and two assists with a team-high six rebounds and four steals as Detroit Mercy fell 63-40 at Loyola in the season opener at Gentile Arena. Daija Moses had six points with five rebounds and three assists while Janna Lewis also added six points with three rebounds. Brandi Washington and Imani McNeal chipped in with five and four points respectively.
 
Detroit Mercy 66 vs Wayne State 73 OT (Exhibition 11/4/21)
The Detroit Mercy women's basketball team placed four players in double figures as senior Monique Pruitt scored a team-high 15 points followed by 14 points from graduate student Janna Lewis and 11 points each from graduate students Sydney Searcy and Tori Powell and the Titans fell 73-66 in overtime to cross-town foe Wayne State in exhibition action on at Calihan Hall.
 
NEW LOOK SQUAD: The Titans will take the floor this season with an entirely new team consisting of 14 newcomers with nine student-athletes from the US, four from Spain and one from Canada.
Florida (2) - Sydney Searcy, graduate student, A'Moni Waiters, junior
Georgia (1) – Imani McNeal, junior
Illinois (1) –Monique Pruitt, senior
Kentucky (1) - Janna Lewis, grad student
Louisiana (1) - Brandi Washington, grad student
New Jersey (1) – Akyia Baker, freshman
North Carolina (1) – Tori Powell, grad student
Pennsylvania (1) – Taylor Blunt, freshman
Canada (1) – Daija Moses, grad student
 
SPANISH CONNECTION: This year's squad features four players from Spain with sophomores Irene Murua and Lucia Fleta Robles and two freshmen, Sonia Pereda and Emma Trawally Porta.