Lourdes opened the second half of Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference action in triumphant fashion on Saturday afternoon as the Gray Wolves defeated the University of Michigan-Dearborn 72-47 inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center.
 
"As a team we are happy with the focus and communication we came into today's game with," head coach Tandy Bradford said afterwards.  "We knew we wanted to jump out early and then never let up and I'm really pleased with the team effort in kicking off the second half of WHAC play with a big win."
 
A 12-2 run midway through the opening period allowed the Gray Wolves to jump out to a nine-point lead, 16-7, following a Taylor Thomas (Marshallville, Ohio/Chippewa H.S.) three-pointer.  Lourdes led by eight after one and went on another 9-0 spurt midway through the second quarter to build a 41-21 edge at the half.
 
The Gray Wolf lead grew to as many as 29, 53-27, midway through the third stanza and Lourdes never led the lead fall below 20 in the second half to snap a four-game losing skid.
 
Macie Stringfellow (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg H.S.) led Lourdes with 14 points and eight rebounds while Emma Pedroza (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon H.S.) came off the bench to add 13 more points.  Nakiya Sigman (Lima, Ohio/Lima Senior H.S.) scored eight points, grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, and handed out four assists.
 
As a team, Lourdes shot 40.3% from the floor, including 46.7% (7-of-15) from three-point range.  The Gray Wolves forced 20 Wolverine turnovers and held Michigan-Dearborn to just 27.1% shooting from the field, including 2-of-20 (10%) from beyond the arc.
 
Maya Barakat led Michigan-Dearborn (1-17, 0-12 WHAC) with 11 points.
 
Lourdes (6-11, 4-8) returns to the road on Wednesday evening as the Gray Wolves travel to Adrian, Mich. to face Siena Heights.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. inside SHU Fieldhouse.