FORT WAYNE, Ind. (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. 

The Titans (0-14, 0-7 HL) entered the game without starters Daija Moses and Brandi Washington and reserve A'Moni Waiters and couldn't withstand a late 13-2 fourth quarter PFW (5-10, 4-4 HL) run which prevented their first win of the season. Graduate student chipped in with five points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals while sophomore Lucia Fleta Robles also added five points.

Defensively, Detroit Mercy had 13 steals and forced 25 PFW turnovers which led to 19 points. The Mastodons overcame this with timely 3-point shooting going 11-for-31 (35.5%) for the game and went 4-for-8 in the fourth quarter which sparked the late run. Conversely, without their leading 3-point shooter in Washington, Detroit Mercy went 0-for-5 ending its consecutive 3-point streak of 367 games with at least one 3-pointer made dating back to March 5, 2009. 

In the fourth quarter, freshman Sonia Pereda made a layup followed by a pair of free throws from Lewis extended Detroit Mercy's lead back up to eight points at 49-41 over the first three minutes of the frame. Searcy then added a quick four points on back-to-back trips down the floor for a 53-46 lead. However, Searcy made a diving steal on PFW's ensuing position, got injured on the play and had to leave the game and didn't return. With the Horizon League's leader in steals out of the game, Purdue Fort Wayne took full advantage going on a 13-2 run to take a 59-55 with 1:02 remaining. After the Dons made a free throw, Detroit Mercy had two chances to cut into the lead and make it a one possession game from the free throw line but only went 2-for-4 down the stretch. Consequently, PFW added another pair of free throws with 11 seconds left to seal the game.

Lewis picked up where she left off in the first half in the third quarter connecting on her third and-one layup with the ensuing free throw putting the Titans up 37-35. Fleta Robles added the next four points followed by a layup from Imani McNeal capped off a 9-0 run giving Detroit Mercy their largest lead of the game at 10 points, 45-35. The Dons responded with the next four points to trail by six points, 45-39, heading into the fourth quarter.

In the second quarter, the Titans used a 7-3 run to pull within two points at 25-23. Trailing 30-27, Lewis connected on her second and-one opportunity after hitting a layup and the ensuing free throw to tie the game at 30-30 heading into the locker room at the half.

Murua opened the game with Titans' first six points while the Dons ended the first quarter on 8-0 run to take a six point lead.

Detroit Mercy returns home against Northern Kentucky on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m.