Raiders drop heartbreaker at Oakland

Sunday, January 15

Rochester, MI

2 PM

Wright State University

2-16,1-7Horizon

Oakland

9-8,4-4Horizon

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Wright St.	14	12	23	19	68
Oakland	13	19	20	21	73

Photo by: Clarence Round

1/15/2023 4:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

ROCHESTER, Mich. — The Wright State women's basketball program dropped a heartbreaker against Oakland, falling 73-68 on Sunday afternoon inside the Athletics Center O'rena.

Wright State fell to 2-16 overall and 1-7 against Horizon League competition, while Oakland improved to 9-8 on the season and 4-4 in HL play.

WSU trailed 70-68 with 1:28 remaining in regulation but had three chances on offense to equal the score or take the lead. However, each opportunity fell short, including a potential game-tying 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Three Raiders scored in double figures, led by Isabelle Bolender with a season-high 15 points and six rebounds. Michigan native Cara Vankempen and Makiya Miller finished with 10 points apiece, while Emily Chapman pulled down a season-best seven rebounds.

WSU found itself in front 19-18 after a 3-pointer by Bolender at the 8:16 minute mark of the second quarter. OU turned the momentum with a 14-2 run to go up 32-21 with 2:36 remaining in the first half. The Raiders ended the period on a 5-0 scoring spurt with makes by Rachel Loobie and Bolender to enter halftime down 32-26.

Both teams shot below 40 percent from the field in the first half, including a combined four 3-pointers on 24 attempts. Bolender accounted for nine of WSU's 26 points in the opening 20 minutes on 3-of-5 shooting.

Wright State's offense heated up coming out of the break, outscoring Oakland 23-20 in the third quarter to cut its deficit to one possession, 52-49. VanKempen scored all 10 of her total points in the period on 4-of-4 shooting to pace the charge.

The Golden Grizzlies remained in front, 63-58, with 5:25 to go in the game. However, WSU stormed back with a 6-0 run to earn a 64-63 lead at the 4:19 minute mark, as Chapman, Miller, and Lauren Scott made consecutive layups.

Down 67-64 after a 4-0 run by Oakland, Miller came up clutch again with her second 3-pointer of the game at the 2:53 minute mark. A minute later, Kacee Baumhower made a free throw to knot the matchup at 68-all. The late charge was not enough, as Oakland outscored the Raiders 5-0 for the remainder of the game.

Wright State will continue its conference schedule on Friday, January 20, against Cleveland State inside the Nutter Center.