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Play-by-play: Joey Hayes
Color: Noah Stalker
Sideline Reporter: Kaylah Snell
Studio: Harjun Buttar
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies pick up their third Horizon League win in a dominant victory over crosstown rival Detroit Mercy. The final score was 89-55.
Oakland came into this game after a 79-59 loss to the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons. They were down by two at the half, and only four entering the fourth quarter. In the fourth, the Mastodons shot 83% from the field and scored nearly 30 points, while holding Oakland to just 12. Going into this game against Detroit Mercy, who played very physical in the previous matchup in Detroit to take a 66-55 victory, it seemed like Oakland had a mountain to climb in order to win this game.
The Titans, 3-1 in the Horizon League coming into this week, eked out a 4-point victory against Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday, January 7th. They then lost a tough battle against the Cleveland State Vikings, in which the Titans could not overcome a poor first half, where they were behind by 18 points entering the third quarter. However, the Titans outrebounded the Vikings, in large part due to star forward Irene Murua, who has been the top rebounder in the Horizon League and seems destined to be the rebounding leader at the end of the season. Head coach Kate Achter knew that Murua’s offensive rebounding to get the Titans more chances to score would be the difference-maker.
In this game, Oakland’s offense, led by forward Linda van Schaik, put the Titans in a spin cycle. Oakland controlled the glass, in no small part due to a valiant effort by Miriam Ibezim, and was able to outrebound the Titans in the first half. Oakland was able to get the three-ball to work multiple times in the first quarter, and brought the lead to 26-115 at the end of the first.
The Golden Grizzlies again outscored the Titans in the second quarter, and held Detroit Mercy’s shooters to just 29% from the field. Irene Murua was held scoreless and Oakland forced her into tough passing situations which she could not convert on. At half, the score was 42-24.
The third and fourth quarters were Oakland’s as well. The Golden Grizzly shooters were firing on all cylinders, and head coach Deanna Richard made the decision to have bench players come in and continue the work the starters had done. Oakland held Detroit Mercy to 0-3 from beyond the arc, a surefire sign that the Grizzlies are starting to understand their three-point defense. It was yet another game that the Titans could not overcome a poor start, and Oakland was able to jump out of the gate, something they haven’t been able to do this season as much as they like to.
Oakland prepares to face the Milwaukee Panthers at home on January 18th, and are looking to get to .500 in Horizon League and overall. Meanwhile, the Detroit Mercy Titans are going to look to break the two-game skid they find themselves in as they prepare to take on the Green Bay Phoenix at Calihan Hall.
WXOU’s next broadcast is on Wednesday, January 17th, as the men’s team prepares to face the Youngstown State Penguins at the OU Credit Union O’rena. Giovanni Moceri and Drew Allison will be the broadcast team. Tune in for live coverage at wxou.org/live!
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