DETROIT (1-18-23) - Junior
Irene Murua, freshman
Amaya Burch, junior
Lucia Fleta Robles and freshman
Myonna Hooper each scored in double figures to spark a fourth-quarter rally as Detroit Mercy battled back from 23 points down cutting the deficit to 10 points on two occasions but could not get over the hump before falling 81-66 to arch-rival Oakland in Metro Series action on Wednesday night at Calihan Hall. Murua paced the Titans with a team-high 13 points and four rebounds while Burch and Fleta Robles each had 12 points and six boards followed by Hooper who scored 10 points while matching a career-best seven rebounds with three assists. Sophomore
Emma Trawally Porta added eight points with eight rebounds while freshman Ana Cabañas Llorens chipped in with six points.
After Oakland (10-9, 5-4 HL) held a 23-point lead at 68-45 to open the fourth quarter, Detroit Mercy (3-15, 1-8 HL) responded with a 12-2 run cutting the deficit to 11 points, 68-55, with 5:02 remaining. The Golden Grizzlies extended the lead back up to 15 points before jumpers from Hooper and Fleta Robles followed by an and-1 conversion from Murua pulled the Titans within 10 points at 74-64 at the 2:07 mark. Detroit Mercy got the ball off a steal with a chance to cut into the lead further but could not convert. With 1:07 left after a made Oakland free throw, the Titans once again had a chance to bring the deficit under double-digits but could not capitalize and were forced to foul to try and extend the game. The Golden Grizzles cashed in their final five trips to the free throw line to seal the game.
In the first half, Oakland's hot shooting from the field set the tone as the Golden Grizzlies went 18-for-39 (46.2%) highlighted by 6-for-12 (50%) from long range. Conversely, Detroit Mercy struggled offensively going 9-for-30 from the floor and 1-for-5 from long range which put the Titans behind 49-27 at the half.
In total, Detroit Mercy held a 46-36 points in the paint advantage but it was offset by Oakland's 21-8 points off turnovers and 16-9 second chance point advantage.
Detroit Mercy hits the road with a #HLWBB game at IUPUI on Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.
