Dec. 22, 2006

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FAIRBORN, Ohio - A free throw with 3.5 left from Sierra Crayton proved to be difference as Wright State upset Dayton, 60-59 at the Nutter Center on Friday. The loss snapped an 11-game winning streak by the Flyers (4-8) over the Raiders (2-9) dating back to Jan. 5, 1995.

Three Flyers reached double figures in scoring including 19 points from senior Jennifer Strong. Juniors Nikki Oakland and Brittany Holterman each pulled down a game-high eight rebounds while scoring 16 and 10 points respectively. Oakland added two assists and a block while Holterman finished with four assists and a steal.

Dayton was limited by a 9-for-19 effort from the free throw line that prevented it from taking advantage of a 34-26 lead at points in the paint and a 44.2 percent shooting night from the field. The Flyers also had 17 assists on their 23 field goals while forcing the Raiders into 23 turnovers. The Flyers have now lost five straight games by eight points or less.

Brittney Whiteside led all players with 26 points and eight rebounds for the homestanding Raiders. Sierra Crayton added 13 points and seven rebounds for Wright State.

The first half featured five tied scores and three lead changes as both sides had leads of six at one point during the opening 20 minutes of play. Oakland carried the Flyers with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field while Strong added seven points and three rebounds. However, a 15-point effort by Whiteside kept WSU in the game and sent the teams to the locker room with the score knotted at 28-all.

Dayton opened the second half on a 9-2 run over the first 3:37 beginning with back-to-back baskets from Karah Cloxton and Oakland. Then Strong cut through the paint and was fouled while making a layup off a feed from Oakland. She converted that free throw attempt and two others just 36 seconds later to give UD a 37-30 advantage with 16:23 left to play.

Wright State worked the margin down to two before Strong ignited another Flyer run to put the lead back to seven at 48-41 with 10:16 remaining. The senior forward had seven of Dayton's 11 points during a span of 4:37 as UD looked to take control of the game.

With the Flyers on top 53-46 and 6:40 remaining on the clock, the Raiders worked the ball into the paint and the duo of Crayton and Whiteside scored nine of WSU's final 14 points in the game. Wright State eventually tied the game for the sixth time at 55-all on a three-point basket by Tyanda Hammock with 3:43 left. The Flyers then answered a pair of jumpers with layups by Holterman and Oakland respectively to knot the score again with 1:14 left.

After a pair of missed free throws by the Flyers with 22 seconds left, Wright State took the ball into the frontcourt and called timeout. After an inbound play with 17 seconds remaining, Whiteside drove down the left side of the paint and missed a layup which fell past the right side of the basket. The Flyers were called for a foul while trying to secure the rebound, which sent Crayton to the free throw line with 3.5 seconds left. The Raider forward made the first and missed the second. Oakland pulled down the rebound, but could not make a full court shot as time expired as Wright State won, 60-59.