The Wright State women’s basketball team will have no choice but to undergo a wardrobe change.
The Raiders will need to replace their Nike high tops for dancing shoes.
Wright State erased a nine-point first half deficit and outscored the Phoenix 52-27 in the final 20 minutes to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history with an 88-69 win over Green Bay Sunday afternoon in the Horizon League Championship at the Kress Events Center.
WSU will wait until Monday night at 7 p.m. to learn its next opponent. The NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Special will air on ESPN.The team will hold a bracket announcement party Monday night at the Fricker's Deck at the Nutter Center. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
“It think it’s great. These kids have been through a lot and they stuck together. They got what they deserved and that was a championship,” Raiders head coach Mike Bradbury said. “It’s something we’ve been playing for all year and I’m just so happy for them.”
WSU defeated Green Bay for the first time on the Phoenix’s home floor. The Raiders were 0-27 in Green Bay and Bradbury was 0-9 against the Phoenix overall before Saturday.
Kim Demmings rebounded from a foul-plagued first half and paved the way for the Raiders comeback in the second half . The Horizon League Player of the Year was called for her third foul with 8:52 left in the first half and sat until the second half. She ended the first half 2-of-4 from the field and four points.
With the Raiders down 42-36, Demmings proceeded to take over when the second half began. The star junior guard came out on fire, hitting her first four shots and scored 11 points to give WSU a 1-point lead.
Still saddled with foul trouble, Demmings remained aggressive on both ends of the floor. She finished with 26 points – 22 in the second half –was 5 of 8 from beyond the arc. Demmings was awarded Tournament MVP honors.
“I knew I had three fouls in the first [half] and I…just felt down on myself, but my coaches told me to ‘Keep my head up. There’s still 20 minutes [left].’ I just came out and felt like it was my time,” Demmings said.
Bradbury said after the game Demmings was her usual self when the Raiders needed her most.
“She was tremendous in the second half and Kim Demmings did what she does,” Bradbury said. “She’s the best player and she played like the best player. She made a bunch of big shots, early in the second half to give us the lead, and from there, we just kind of took off.”
Tay’ler Mingo led WSU with 31 points and established a new tournament record with 81 points in the Raiders’ three wins over Milwaukee, Youngstown State and Green Bay. She named to the All-Tournament Team along with Demmings.
Mingo’s 14 points led the Raiders at halftime and guided WSU through rough patches on offense that saw the Raiders start the game 1 of 10 from the field and end the first half shooting just under 39 percent.
“We weren’t too worried about being down. All we knew at that point was we gotta get some stops,” Mingo said. “We can play defense when we really put our minds to it and we really buckled down when we needed to.”
Bradbury said Mingo’s play provided a boost with Demmings and Ivory James in foul trouble.
“[Mingo] was tremendous in both halves. In the first half, she really kept us together when Kim and Ivory were in terrible foul trouble,” Bradbury said.
James added 13 points and six rebounds for WSU. Tayler Stanton kept the Raiders within striking distance eight points and game-high 15 rebounds, including 10 offensive rebounds.
In rare fashion, WSU out-rebounded Green Bay 38-37, including 19-13 on the offensive glass.
Forward Mehryn Kraker led Green Bay with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Breannah Ranger also finished with a double-double, with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Kaili Lukan had 11.
Despite the loss, the Phoenix will receive an automatic bid to the WNIT.
Senior guard KC Elkins was lost for the game with a left knee injury late in the second half. Elkins was fouled on a fast break layup and fell to the floor, writhing in pain. She was assisted to the bench with help from the WSU training staff.
Bradbury said the severity of Elkins’ injury was unknown and the team would conduct an MRI on Monday. Elkins finished with three points and two rebounds in 29 minutes.
