Wright State University
6-8, 2-1HL
Valparaiso
6-7, 1-2HL
Women Defeat Valparaiso
1/8/2009 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Wright State shot 50 percent for the contest compared to 25 percent for Valparaiso as the Raiders defeated the Crusaders 54-44 in Horizon League women's basketball action at the Nutter Center Thursday evening.
WSU led by four on three different occasions in the early going, the final being 15-11 following a Kanisha Ward three with 9:40 remaining in the first half. Valparaiso, though, responded with a 9-2 run, five of those coming from Whitney Farris, to go up 20-17 at the 3:56 mark.
Those would be the final points of the half for the Crusaders, however, as Wright State closed the period with a 6-0 burst, capped off by a Shey Peddy layup in the final seconds, to take a 23-20 halftime lead.
The Raiders shot 41 percent over the opening 20 minutes compared to 27 percent for Valparaiso. The Crusaders, though, stayed close by hitting seven of eight foul shots while Wright State missed both of its free throw attempts.
Agnieszka Kulaga hit a three to tie the score three minutes into the second half, but a Peddy three put the Raiders ahead for good and an 8-0 run, seven coming from LaShawna Thomas, extended the margin to 34-25 with 11:26 remaining.
A Ta-myra Davis, though, push the lead back into double figures and the Crusaders would get no closer than eight the rest of the way.
WSU hit 11 of 17 shots in the second half for 65 percent in finishing at 50 percent overall, while Valparaiso shot just 22 percent the final 20 minutes to end up at 25 percent for the game. The Crusaders, however, were 16 of 19 from the stripe compared to five of eight for the Raiders. Wright State held a 38-25 rebounding advantage, but committed 31 turnovers to Valpo's 21.
Peddy led all scorers with 19 for the Raiders while Thomas added 17, 11 coming in the second half, and had a near double-double with nine rebounds.
Litka paced Valparaiso (6-7, 1-2 Horizon) with 13 points while Betsy Adams scored 10 off the bench, all coming in the second half.
Wright State (6-8, 2-1 Horizon) hosts Butler Saturday at 1:00.
