KALAMAZOO, Mich. (12-6-23) - After Western Michigan battled all the back from an 18-point deficit and the Detroit Mercy clinging to a one-point lead, 57-56, with 11 seconds to go, senior
Annika Corcoran came up clutch in just her second game back sinking 5-of-6 free throws within the final 11 seconds lifting the Titans to a 62-59 win at WMU on Wednesday night at University Arena. The win snapped a seven-game skid against the Broncos and marked the first time UDM has won three consecutive games since the 2016-17 season. It also marks the first time the Titans have a 7-3 record to start the season in over two decades since the 1999-00 season.
With 11 ticks on the clock, Corcoran hit her first free throw and then missed the second, however, she was able to move inside the paint to grab her own rebound off the back of a WMU (4-4) player forcing the Broncos to foul her again. This time, she calmly stepped up and sank both attempts, moving the Titans ahead 60-56.
After a timeout to advance the ball to half-court, Western's Alli Carson drove to the hoop and was fouled in the process. She hit the ensuing free throw to pull WMU within a point, 60-59 with four ticks left. Once again with ice water in her veins, Corcoran stepped up and drained both free throws to seal the Titans' second road win of the season over a Mid-American Conference Team.
Corcoran finished with eight points while senior
Irene Murua continued her hot shooting from the floor going 6-for-10 to post a game-high 17 points with eight rebounds. Sophomore
Amaya Burch was the only other Titan in double-figures with 11 points and eight rebounds. Graduate student
Imani McNeal and sophomore
Myonna Hooper each had six points while junior
Emma Trawally Porta and freshman
Makayla Jackson each chipped in with five points.
WMU opened the fourth quarter on fire outscoring the Titans 16-8 to pull within two points at 49-47. Murua stopped the bleeding converting on an and-1 opportunity for three points putting UDM back up by five points. The Broncos added a 3-pointer but McNeal answered with a 3-ball of her own to maintain the five-point lead at 55-50 with 2:21 to go. WMU's Kaitlyn Zarycki then scored the Broncos' next five points off a layup and four free throws to cut the deficit to one point, 57-56, setting the stage for Corcoran's clutch free throws.
The Titans opened the third quarter with the first basket and then went cold from the floor, missing the next eight shots which allowed WMU to cut the deficit to single digits at 36-27 at the 2:59 mark. Murua connected on a layup and followed with a pair of free throws to put UDM back up by 13 points, 40-27. After a pair of WMU buckets, Hooper split a pair of free throws to take a 10-point lead at 41-31 heading into the fourth.
UDM increased its lead to 20-7 to open the second quarter. WMU responded with an 8-0 spurt to pull within six points at 20-14 before back-to-back 3-pointers from Corcoran and Jackson ended the run, moving the Titans back ahead by a 12-point advantage at 26-14. UDM added another five points for their second 11-0 run of the game to lead by 17 points before a WMU hoop cut the deficit to 15 at 31-16 heading into the locker room.
Detroit Mercy came out hitting on all cylinders on both ends of the court as they opened the game on an 11-0 run while holding WMU scoreless until the 3:11 mark of the first quarter. The Broncos added five straight points until Trawally Porta scored the last four points of the frame with a pair of free throws and a jumper giving the Titans a 15-5 lead after one.
Detroit Mercy continues non-conference play at Northern Illinois on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.
