Women's basketball lose heartbreaker at Edinboro

Women's basketball lose heartbreaker at Edinboro: In its first road game of the season, the Wayne State women’s basketball team (0-2) fell to the No. 15 Edinboro Fighting Scots (2-1), 77-74.

Featuring six ties, the game was close for most of the way. Unfortunately for the Warriors, Edinboro was on top at the end.

After nearly eight minutes of play, the teams played to a 13-13 tie. The Fighting Scots went on a 7-0 to take the lead with 10:42 to play in the half.

The Warriors cut the lead to four at 24-20 with a Paige Sickmiller layup. But Edinsboro scored six consecutive points to extend its lead to 10 points with just under seven minutes remaining in the half. WSU cut the deficit to four again after reeling off six consecutive points.

But the Fighting Scots pulled away again, and at halftime they led 44-34.

The Fighting Scots kept a sizeable lead to start the second half. The Warriors got to within four points once again at 53-49, but Edinboro extended its lead to nine, 59-50, with 10:53 to go in the game.

The Warriors didn’t go away, though, as they began to climb back into the ballgame. A layup from Phaebre Colbert and a 3-pointer from Sickmiller – who scored a game-high 22 points – got WSU back to within four points.

Edinboro held a still held a four-point advantage until the 5:37 mark when a score from Talisha Bridges made it a two-point game, 65-63.

The Warriors took their first lead since early in the first half, 68-67, when Juanita Cochran converted a 3-point play. The lead would not last long, though, as the Fighting Scots scored on the ensuing possession.

Edinboro remained on top until there was 3:06 to go in the game. Two free-throws from Talisha Bridges tied the score at 71, but the Fighting Scots followed with a 6-0 run.

Trailing 77-71 with 42 seconds remaining and Talisha Bridges at the line, she hit one-of-two from the stripe. After missing the second, Colbert grabbed the rebound and laid it in to make it a three-point game with 39 seconds left.

Edinboro missed a jumper and the rebound was grabbed by Sickmiller with seven seconds to go. Trying to tie the game, Brittany Streetman’s three-point attempt was partially blocked, sealing the game for the Fighting Scots.

Colbert finished with 18 points and four rebounds. Talisha Bridges contributed with eight points, two boards and two assists, while Kayla Bridges tallied five points and eight rebounds.

The Warriors begin GLIAC play Nov. 29 at Tiffin.