Box Score
Lourdes opened the second half of Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference action the same way it began the first half, defeating Lawrence Tech 58-54 on Wednesday evening at Tam-o-Shanter to compete the season sweep of the Blue Devils.
 
The Gray Wolves fought back from a seven-point second half deficit after leading by as many as 11 points in the opening stanza to earn their sixth win of the season, surpassing Lourdes win total from 2011-2012, the inaugural season of women's basketball on campus.
 
Tarynn Hampton (Saint Louis, Mo./Alton H.S.) and Tiffani Blackman (Toledo, Ohio/Start H.S.) both registered double-doubles in the victory. Hampton scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while Blackman tallied a season-high 13 points and matched a season best with 11 boards.
 
“The last two games I have seen a difference with our inside game,” head coach Zareth Gray stated after the win.  “We want to build from the inside out.”
 
The Gray Wolves started strong, scoring 12 of the game's first 13 points to take an 11-point advantage less than eight minutes into the contest.  Lourdes held Lawrence Tech without a field goal for the opening nine minutes, as the Blue Devils went 0-for-5 from the floor and committed seven turnovers during the stretch.
 
“We started off playing like a team tonight but that went away midway through the first half,” Gray said.
 
Lawrence Tech battled back though, going on a 9-0 run to take the lead, 16-14, on a three-pointer by Allison Bicknell with 5:31 to play before intermission.  Lourdes would score just two points over the final 4:31 of the half and the Blue Devils finished the stanza on a 10-2 run to take a 26-20 lead into the locker room.
 
The deficit grew to seven, 31-24, with 16 minutes to play before Lourdes scored eight straight points to retake the lead 32-31 on a layup by Hampton.  The lead wavered back-and-forth for several minutes, and was tied at 41 with 10 minutes to play when the Gray Wolves went on a 10-0 run.  Five free throws and a key three-pointer by Courtney Slepko (Cleveland, Ohio/Normandy H.S.) spearheaded the run.
 
“Courtney hit two big threes for us tonight,” Gray added. 
 
The Blue Devils again fought back, scoring nine straight points over three minutes to pull within one, 53-52, with 3:43 to play in the game.  Neither team would score for the next 2:30, but a Ty Ali (Chicago, Ill./Rich South H.S.) steal and feed to Hampton for a lay-in put the Gray Wolves on top by three.  Lourdes made three of four free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
 
“In the second half we decided we wanted to play,” Gray concluded.  We finished our layups a lot better than in the first half, played a lot more aggressive, and rebounded the ball better.”
 
Lourdes finished the game outrebounding Lawrence Tech 45-40, grabbing 23 offensive boards which led to 19 second chance points in the process.  The Gray Wolves also forced 22 Blue Devil turnovers which led to 20 points.
 
Lauren Tilden (Ravenna, Ohio/Ravenna H.S.) was the third player in double figures for the Gray Wolves, scoring 10 points while Ali handed out five assists without a turnover.
 
Hali Butler led Lawrence Tech (5-11, 3-9 WHAC) with 14 points while Jackie Hood added 11 points and 12 rebounds.  Bicknell finished the game with 10 points.
 
Lourdes (6-14, 3-9) will remain at home on Saturday evening, hosting #10 Davenport at Tam-o-Shanter.  Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.