DETROIT (12/1/23) – After a historic #HLWBB season-opening win at Youngstown State to conclude a six-game road swing, the Detroit Mercy women's basketball team welcomes arch-rival Oakland for a Metro Series showdown on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from Dick Vitale Court at Calihan Hall on ESPN+ with Denny Kapp and Tara Fricke on the call.
 
Sunday's game will be a RED OUT as the first 250 fans will receive a red t-shirt courtesy of Alliance Catholic Credit Union. Tickets can be purchased here.
 
Notes:
Six-Game Road Swing Complete:
Detroit Mercy's win at YSU concluded a six-game road swing for the Titans which started at Butler followed by Michigan State, Dayton, South Carolina Upstate and Georgia Southern.
 
A Look at the Golden Grizzlies Oakland is 3-3 on the season with wins over Akron, Cleary and Madonna while dropping the #HLWBB opener to Purdue Fort Wayne. The Golden Grizzlies are led by graduate student guard Markyla McCormick in scoring (14.3 ppg). Sophomore Brooke Quarles-Daniels paces the team in rebounds per game (6.0) and assists per game (3.7). Oakland is under the direction of Acting Head Coach Deanna Richard who is filling in for Head Coach Jeff Tungate who is on his fourth medical leave of absence.
 
All-Time Series: OU leads the all-time series 22-15 with a 16-4 Metro Series record. The Golden Grizzlies have won the last 12 consecutive meetings.
 
A win would…
Snap a 12-game skid against the Golden Grizzlies and would be the first time UDM has won since a 71-61 decision on Feb. 11, 2017. It would also be the first time the Titans won consecutive season-opening #HLWBB games since the 2016-17 season.
 
Last time vs Oakland:
Detroit Mercy 65 at Oakland 66 (2/20/23)
Out of a timeout with Detroit Mercy trailing 64-63 with 16.2 seconds left in the game, senior Imani McNeal broke free and converted a layup giving the Titans a 65-64 lead with 11.8 ticks left. Oakland freshman Brooke Quarles-Daniels answered with a bucket giving the Golden Grizzlies the lead back with 4.5 seconds remaining. After a time-out to advance the ball, junior Irene Murua took the inbounds pass, dribbled out of a double team, and sent a pass to freshman Amaya Burch who caught the ball but could not get a shot off before the final buzzer sounded as the Titans lost a 66-65 heart-breaker at arch-rival Oakland in Metro Series action at the O'rena on Monday night.
 
Last Time Out: Titans Put Penguins on Ice Snapping 10-game skid.
Behind hot shooting from sophomore Myonna Hooper who poured in a career-high 16 points on a blistering 7-for-10 from the field with four rebounds and three assists, Detroit Mercy posted a 59-50 win at Youngstown State on Thursday night at the Beeghly Center. Senior Irene Murua posted her second double-double of the season with 14 points on 4-for-9 shooting with 10 rebounds and 6-for-10 from the free throw line. Senior Jada Moorehead added eight points on shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field while junior Emma Trawally Porta also had eight points going 4-for-5 from the charity stripe.
 
It's Been A While:
• UDM's win at YSU snapped a 10-game skid against the Penguins
• It also marked the first time the Titans won a #HLWBB opener since the 2016-17 season when they defected Valparaiso 85-60 on Dec. 29, 2016.
• The win moved the Titans to 5-3 matching their win total from the 2022-23 season on the last day of November.
• The win over USC Upstate was the first time since the 2001-02 season UDM started with a 4-2 record and marked the first time the Titans won two consecutive games since the 2016-17 season.
• UDM's win at Dayton moved marked the first time since the 2010-11 season the Titans started with a 3-2 record.
• Detroit's Mercy's win over Chicago State moved the Titans to 2-0 to start the season for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
• The Titans won both games by a 30-point and 35-point margin. The last time the UDM posted back-to-back 30-point wins was during the 2012-13 season when they defeated Lourdes, IPFW and Madonna.
• UDM's win over EMU snapped a four-game skid against the Eagles
• The win also marked the Titans' first season-opening win since the 2018-19 season
• Additionally, it was UDM's first season-opening road win since the 2016-17 season
• It also was the Titans' first win over a Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponent since the Titans defeated the Eagles, 77-64, on Dec. 6, 2016.
 
Marvelous Murua:
• Senior Irene Murua leads the team in scoring (11.5 ppg) and ranks second in rebounds per game (7.4 - 3rd HL).
• Murua averaged 12.5 ppg, 6.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, shooting a blistering 10-for-17 from the field (58.8%) with two blocks to lead Detroit Mercy to a 1-1 record at MSU and Dayton.
• Posted a game-high 21 points (just missing her career-high of 23 by two points) going 8-for-13 from the field and perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line while just missing a double-double grabbing nine rebounds to lead the Titans over Dayton for their second road win of the season.
 
Double-Double Delivery:
• Murua posted her second double-double of the season with 14 points on 4-for-9 shooting with 10 rebounds and 6-for-10 from the free throw line at YSU (11/30).
• Trawally Porta had 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting with 11 rebounds and three blocks at EMU.
• Murua added 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting with 10 boards at EMU.
 
She's a Hooper:
• Sophomore Myonna Hooper leads the team in assists (23) and assists per game (2.9 – 11th HL).
• Poured in a career-high 16 points on a blistering 7-for-10 from the field with four rebounds and three assists in win at Youngstown State (11/30).
• In her first start of the season, she added 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting in the win vs USC Upstate (11/24)
• Scored 12 points going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line, 2-for-3 from long range while dishing out a career-best six assists in the win over Dayton.
• Matched a career-high with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 3-for-5 from 3-point range with three assists coming off the bench vs Chicago State (11/10).
• Had 12 points going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line, 2-for-4 from 3-point range coming off the bench
 
Hot from the Field:
• Murua also leads the team in field goal percentage shooting a blistering 60.3% from the floor.
• Hooper ranks second on the team shooting 44.3% from the field.
 
Get that Outta Here:
• Junior Emma Trawally Porta is picking up where she left off last season leading the team in blocks (12) and blocks per game (1.5 – 3rd HL) and being a defensive force in the paint.
• She posted a season-high three blocks at EMU and Dayton.
• Last season, she led the HL and ranked 18th in the nation in blocks per game (2.2) and total blocks (62) which ranked 26th Nationally.
• She also posted four or more blocks in nine games with a career-high six blocks at WSU (2/25) and five vs MKE (2/5).
 
All-Around Emma:
• Trawally Porta also leads the team in rebounds per game (8.0 – 2nd HL).
• She just missed a double-double with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and 1-for-1 from long range with nine rebounds and three blocks in the win at Dayton.
• Over the first three games of the season, Trawally Porta averaged 8.3 ppg, 11.0 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game, 1.0 steals per game with six total blocks (2.0 per game) to lead Detroit Mercy to a 2-1 opening week record.
• Posted first double-double of the season with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting with 11 rebounds, three blocks and two assists in season-opening win at EMU (11/6) which marked the Titans' first season-opening win since the 2018-19 season and first season-opening road win since the 2016-17 season. It also was the Titans' first win over a Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponent since the Titans defeated the Eagles, 77-64, on Dec. 6, 2016.
• Grabbed a game-high 14 boards just missing a career-high of 15 while scoring five points with two blocks and matching a career-high three steals defensively in the home opening win vs Chicago State (11/10) that moved the Titans to 2-0 to start the season for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
• Scored 10 points hitting a career-best 3-for-3 from 3-point range while grabbing eight rebounds with two assists and a block in 7-point setback at Butler.
 
Fabulous Freshman:
• Freshman Paris Gilmore was named Armour® #HLWBB Freshman of the Week (11/13).
• Averaged 10.0 ppg, 1.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals per game to lead Detroit Mercy to a 2-1 opening week record.
• Had quite the collegiate debut scoring a team-best 13 points on 3-of-7 from 3-point range with two boards, a steal, and an assist in the season-opening win at EMU (11/6) which marked the Titans' first season-opening win since the 2018-19 season and first season-opening road win since the 2016-17 season. It also was the Titans' first win over a Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponent since the Titans defeated the Eagles, 77-64, on Dec. 6, 2016.
• Added eight points with two steals and an assist in home opening win vs Chicago State (11/10) that moved the Titans to 2-0 to start the season for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
• Chipped in with nine points going 3-for-4 from the charity stripe with two assists at Butler (11/12).
 
Jackson Solid Off the Bench:
• Freshman Makayla Jackson is making an impact coming off the bench.
• Averaged 9.0 ppg., 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 8-for-16 (50.0%) from the field with two blocks to lead Detroit Mercy to a 1-1 record at MSU and Dayton.
• Scored six points with two assists, two rebounds and a career-best two blocks coming off the bench at Michigan State.
• Had a break-out game scoring in double figures for the first time with a career-best 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting with a 3-pointer, two assists, and two boards helping the Titans over Dayton for their second road win of the season.
 
Real Deal McNeal:
• Graduate student Imani McNeal had a solid all-around game scoring nine points and grabbing four rebounds while dishing out four assists and matching a career-high with four steals defensively at Butler (11/12).
• Leads the team in steals (10) and steals per game (1.4).
• Reached double figures at EMU (10 pts) and vs Chicago State (11 pts.)
 
Amzil with the Ammo:
• Junior Latifa Amzil provided a spark off the bench play scoring a career-best 16 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting from the field, 3-for-3 from 3-point range, and 1-for-1 from the free throw line in the first half to lead Detroit Mercy to a win over South Carolina Update.
• She added two points with a career-best seven rebounds in the setback at Georgia Southern.
 
All-Around Offense:
• Detroit Mercy's offensive efficiency from all three phases proved to be the difference in the win at Dayton
• The Titans shot season-highs in field goal percentage with a blistering 27-for-59 (55.1%), 6-for-12 (50.0%) from 3-point range, and 16-of-17 (94.1%) from the free throw line just missing the school record of 95.6% set in 1991.
 
Suffocating Defense:
• The Titans' lock-down defense held Chicago State to 17-for-60 (28.3%) from the field.
• They also held the EMU to only seven points in the first quarter and nine points in the fourth and 14-for-56 (25.0%) shooting overall.
 
Guard the Arc:
• The Titans held the Cougars to just 1-for-14 from 3-point range and EMU to just 2-of-15 (13.3%) from behind the arc.
• Over the first two games of the season, both teams shot a combined 3-for-29 (10.3%) from beyond the arc against the Titans' perimeter defense.
 
Crash the Boards:
• The Titans grabbed 54 rebounds with 23 against Chicago State
• UDM grabbed 51 total rebounds with 17 offensive boards that led to 13 second-chance points.
 
Down Low Dominance:
• UDM scored 50 of its 83 points in the paint against Chicago while posting 34 of 68 points in the paint at EMU.
 
Give Me That:
• The Titans grabbed a season-high 14 steals against CSU and eight at EMU.
 
Zone Busters:
• Detroit Mercy took advantage of EMU's zone by shooting a blistering 9-for-20 (45.0%) from 3-point range and 28-for-60 (46.7%) from the field.

Season Rewind:
GATA Turkey Throwdown Recap
Game 7: Detroit Mercy 59 at Georgia Southern 81 (11/25/23)
Senior Irene Murua posted a team-high 17 points on 7-of-8 shooing and 3-for-3 from the free throw line as Detroit Mercy concluded GATA Turkey Throwdown play with an 81-59 setback to host Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon at Hanner Fieldhouse. Graduate student Imani McNeal was the only other Titan to reach double figures with 10 points going 2-for-4 from 3-point range. Sophomore Amaya Burch added eight points with junior Emma Trawally Porta grabbing a team-best eight rebounds along with six points.
 
Game 6: Detroit Mercy 71 vs USC Upstate 64 (11/24/23)
First time since the 2001-02 season Detroit Mercy has started 4-2 as the Titans held off South Carolina Update, 71-64, to kick off play at the GATA Turkey Throwdown on Friday afternoon at Hanner Fieldhouse. Junior Latifa Amzil's play in the first half provided the second quarter spark the Titans needed as she was perfect scoring 16 points on 6-for-6 shooting from the field, 3-for-3 from 3-point range, and 1-for-1 from the free throw line. In her first start of the season, sophomore Myonna Hooper added 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting while senior Irene Murua added eight points going 4-of-9 from the field with a team-high 10 rebounds.
 
Game 5: Detroit Mercy 76 at Dayton 60 (11/18/23)
For the second time this season, Detroit Mercy placed four players in double figures led by senior Irene Murua who posted a game-high 21 points (just missing her career-high of 23 by two points) going 8-for-13 from the field and perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line while just missing a double-double grabbing nine rebounds. Junior Emma Trawally Porta also missed a double-double with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and 2-for-2 from long range with nine rebounds and three blocks as the Titans used impressive shooting from the field, 3-point range, and the free throw line to roll past Dayton, 76-60, to claim their second road win of the season on Saturday afternoon at the UD Arena.
 
Game 4: Detroit Mercy 44 at Michigan State 105 (11/16/23)
Sophomore Myonna Hooper also added nine points on 4-for-6 shooting with two assists and five rebounds while senior Jada Moorehead scored nine points on 4-for-5 shooting as Detroit Mercy fell 105-44 at Michigan State on Thursday night at the Breslin Center. Makayla Jackson chipped in with six points, two assists and two blocks for second consecutive game while senior Lucia Fleta Robles added five points. Junior Latifa Amzil connected on her first a 3-point bucket of the season. Freshman Kamari Forrest scored two points with a steal and a rebound in her Titan debut.
 
Game 3: Detroit Mercy 61 at Butler 68 (11/12/23)
Graduate student Imani McNeal had a solid all-around game scoring nine points and grabbing four rebounds while dishing out four assists and matching a career-high with four steals defensively as Detroit Mercy battled but came up short, 68-61, in their first loss of the season at Butler on Sunday night. The Titans had two players in double-figures led by junior Emma Trawally Porta who had 10 points hitting a career-best 3-for-3 from the 3-point line while grabbing eight rebounds with a block. Senior Irene Murua also added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting with nine boards.
 
Game 2: Detroit Mercy 83 vs Chicago State 48 (11/10/23)
For the second consecutive game, Detroit Mercy delivered a dominating offensive and defensive performance to roll past Chicago State, 83-48, in home-opening action on Friday night at Calihan Hall. Sophomore Myonna Hooper matched a career-high with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 3-for-5 from 3-point range with three assists. Graduate student Imani McNeal added 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting with three steals while sophomore Amaya Burch also had 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting with three helpers to round out the three players in double figures.
 
Detroit Mercy moved to 2-0 to start the season for the first time since the 2010-11 season and has won both games by a 30-point and 35-point margin. The last time the Titans posted back-to-back 30-point wins was in 2012 with the last back-to-back 20-points wins happening during the 2017 season.
 
Game 1: Detroit Mercy 68 at Eastern Michigan 38 (11/6/23)
Detroit Mercy delivered a dominating performance on both sides of the ball with efficient offense and suffocating defense en route to a 68-38 thumping over in-state rival Eastern Michigan to tip off the 2023-24 season on Monday night at the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Titans had four players in double figures
 
Field Trip Day!!
Exhibition: Detroit Mercy 82 vs Lake Erie 32 (11/1/23)
In perpetration for the season, Detroit Mercy hosted Lake Erie College in an exhibition game that was part of Field Trip Day where the Titans welcomed student from multiple grade schools from the Metro Detroit area. UDM had four players in double figures in Amaya Burch (16 pts.), Emma Trawally Porta (11 pts.), Paris Gilmore (11 pts.) and Makayla Jackson (10 pts.).