Women’s Basketball Edged By Crimson Wave, 60-54

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WHITING, Ind. — Marygrove women’s basketball played its first of two games this weekend with a matinee tilt in Whiting, Indiana, Saturday (Dec. 20) against the host Calumet College of St. Joseph Crimson Wave. After holding an early lead, the Mustangs (2-11) were outlasted by the hosts as the Crimson Wave (6-11) squeaked out a narrow 60-54 win. The Mustangs will make the long trip back to meet up with Saginaw Valley State University Sunday (Dec. 21) for the Green and Gold’s final exhibition game of the 2014-15 campaign. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. in University Center.

On Saturday, the Mustangs shot out to an early 6-0 lead behind a pair of Raeha Weaver (Battle Creek, Mich./Kellogg CC) three-pointers. Minutes later and after another basket by the Mustangs, the Crimson Wave pushed back to knot the game, 8-8, before Weaver found sophomore center Theresa Dray (Davison, Mich./Davison High School) to put the Mustangs back in front, 10-8, with 16:48 remaining in the opening half.

Turnovers would hurt the Mustangs after the team earned the two-point lead as the Crimson Wave surged to a 15-10 advantage off of the Green and Gold’s miscues with 13 minutes remaining in the first half.

A Tiffany Bradford (Detroit, Mich./Dakota College) three-pointer sparked the Mustangs in the latter part of the first half, cutting a nine-point deficit to six, 21-15, with 8:38 left on the first-half clock. The teams battled back-and-forth from there with the Crimson Wave taking a 33-26 edge over the Mustangs into the halftime break.

Janeesa Jamierson (Battle Creek, Mich./Kellogg CC) proved to be a big difference for the Mustangs in the first half. The senior guard/forward pulled in a team-high eight rebounds in the first half and was responsible for six of the Mustangs’ second-chance points off of three offensive boards.

The Mustangs cut the Crimson Wave lead to three, 37-34, just three minutes into the second half to mark the beginning of a highly-competitive latter frame. The Mustangs cut the Crimson Wave deficit to three points on numerous occasions in the second half, but could not get any closer as the hosts held on to defeat the Green and Gold by two possessions.

Bradford and Weaver led the Mustangs with 12 points each. Bradford was a steady presence from three-point territory again for the Mustangs, connecting on 4-of-5 attempts Saturday afternoon. Weaver added three assists and three steals in 32 minutes of work.

Jamierson recorded a double-double for the second straight game by posting 11 points and 10 rebounds. Malika Flenorl (Battle Creek, Mich./Kellogg CC) pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds for the Mustangs, adding three steals and two points in the non-conference setback.

Giacanna Ezell led the Crimson Wave with a game-high 18 points and 19 rebounds.

The Mustang Sports Network will travel with the team to cover Sunday’s (Dec. 21) exhibition contest at Saginaw Valley State University. Tune-in for the live audio call on marygrovemustangs.com/live at 12:50 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CONTACT: Tim Johnston | tjohnston@marygrove.edu | @tjohnston56
MARYGROVE BROADCASTS: Mustang Sports Network | Twitter
SOCIAL MEDIA: Women’s Basketball on Twitter