DETROIT (1-7-24) - Freshman
Paris Gilmore picked the perfect time to have her second breakout game coming off the bench to post a career-high 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 2-for-5 from long-range while adding her first career block as Detroit Mercy got back on track with a 60-56 #HLWBB win over Purdue Fort Wayne. The win snapped a five-game skid against the Mastodons for the Titans who are now a perfect 5-0 at Calihan Hall.
Detroit Mercy (11-5, 4-1 HL) also had an all-around scoring performance from all five starters as sophomore
Amaya Burch recorded double figures for the second consecutive game with 11 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Sophomore
Myonna Hooper added nine points with seven boards just missing her career best by one while senior
Irene Murua just missed a double-double with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.
Graduate student
Imani McNeal added eight points with seven rebounds while junior
Emma Trawally Porta chipped in with six points and six rebounds with two blocks. Senior
Jada Moorehead rounded out the scoring with four points and three boards.
In the second half, both teams opened the third quarter hot from the field as UDM hit 6-for-8 (75%) while PFW went 4-for-8 (50%) as the Titans held a 36-35 lead by the media timeout. Gilmore connected on a 3-pointer as the Titans closed on a 10-2 run to lead by eight points, 46-48. UDM shot a blistering 10-for-15 (66.7%) from the field and 3-for-6 from long range for the frame.
PFW responded to open the fourth quarter outscoring UDM by a slim 10-8 margin to trail by six points, 54-48, at the 4:40 mark. The Dons then went on a 6-0 run to tie the score at 54-54 with 2:56 to go. Murua hit a layup followed by a breakaway layup from Burch to move the Titans back ahead by four points, 58-54, at the 1:31 left. The Dons added a free throw and forced a UDM turnover but missed their next two shots from the field as time winded down. Hooper got a rebound and was fouled. She then hit a clutch pair of free throws to seal the deal with seven ticks left to seal the win.
In the first half, UDM trailed 7-2 to open the game before Murua connected on a spin move to cap off a 6-0 Titan run giving them the lead at 8-7 at the first media timeout. After the Dons moved ahead, Gilmore connected on a 3-pointer to pull UDM within one point at 11-12 to end the first quarter.
The Titans opened the second quarter on a 7-2 run to regain the lead at 18-14. Burch connected on a jumper as both teams finished the half all square at 23-23 heading into the locker room.
Detroit Mercy hits the road for a #HLWBB showdown at Cleveland State on Wednesday, Jan 10, at 7 p.m.
