The Oakland women’s basketball team suffered a defeat against the Wright State Raiders at the Nutter Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, with a final score of 80-68.
First Quarter
Oakland was off to a hot start, credited to Markyia McCormick scoring their first five points as Oakland established a 5-0 lead to start this game off. Defensively, Oakland employed a full-court press, causing two Wright State turnovers.
After the first media timeout, Wright State came in with a different mindset and were able to score back-to-back buckets to finally get them on the board, but the Grizzlies extended their lead to 17-4, showing a balanced scoring effort, including impactful 3-pointers from McCormick and Linda van Schaik, and were already three of four from beyond the arc. The Raiders eventually started finding success working inside the paint.
Kennedie Montue, though, checked in and was already on a hot shooting spree when she knocked down a tough triple with less than five seconds remaining in the first quarter. The Golden Grizzlies dominated the first quarter, leading 28-14.
Second Quarter
In an attempt to replicate their same offensive groove in the second quarter, the Raiders caught on and tightened up defensively. Wright State went on a scoring surge and overcame a 14-point deficit to take a 34-33 lead with 2:14 remaining in the second.
Alexis Hutchinson helped the Raiders overcome their slow start and was having her way at getting to the basket, and they went into intermission, holding onto their one-point advantage over the Grizzlies, 39-38. The team overall shot a higher field goal percentage of 48 percent to 45 percent. Oakland, though, dominated the boards with 17 rebounds compared to Wright State’s 15.
Third Quarter
The Raiders carried their momentum from the second quarter into the third and had gone up a total of 10 points off a 10-3 run. Efforts from Brooke Quarles-Daniels’ floor general passing to Montue’s crucial makes provided them a run as the Grizzlies looked to get the momentum back in their favor, but the Raiders still could not be stopped.
Fourth Quarter
The Grizzlies showed signs of picking up the tempo, but Wright State had open looks and was successfully moving the ball in transition. The Golden Grizzlies never let up and stayed right with them as the score lingered at 68-65. However, as soon as Wright State stopped the scoring drought, they began to get back on track with Hutchinson’s continued contributions, allowing them to secure the 80-68 win.
Kennedie Montue went 4-8 in shooting from the field, giving her 13 points. Linda van Schaik mirrored this and also had 13 points, along with six rebounds. Quarles-Daniels displayed an all-around performance with 13 points, along with seven assists and four rebounds. Adding to the scoring effort was Maddy Skorupski, who contributed eight points.
What’s Next?
The Golden Grizzlies will head back to the OU Credit Union O’rena to play Youngstown State University for Equity and Inclusion Night on Feb. 8. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. Following that, they will then stay at home and host the Colonials of Robert Morris on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m.