While Mingo was on top of her game offensively, WSU’s leading scorer, Kim Demmings, struggled to find the bottom of the net. Demmings did not score her first field goal until the 10:25 mark of the second half. She finished with nine points on 3-of-16 shooting, but added 10 rebounds and a “tremendous” defensive effort, according to WSU coach Mike Bradbury.
In lieu of Demmings’ regular offensive output, Wright State dug its heels in and played suffocating defense.
“Defensively, we were really good,” Bradbury said. “[Defense] is what we worked on all week after the debacle down in Louisville.”
Seventh-ranked Louisville beat WSU 99-40 on Dec. 7, the Raiders’ worst loss in program history.
James said the Raiders were eager to get back on the court after the embarrassing loss.
“We were just ready, ready to get back to us, so that’s what we did,” James said.
Bradbury said his team was able to spend practice time improving on basic team concepts and against Xavier, that practice showed dividends. The Raiders forced the Musketeers into 24 turnovers and earned a 44-32 rebounding advantage.
Offensively, the Raiders hit 10 3-pointers and had eight assists on 29 made field goals.
“We had three great days of long and hard practices and its what we needed. I think it showed a little bit today,” Bradbury said.
Wright State also saw two of its transfers see game action for the first time this season. Forward Kourtni Perry and guard Symone Denham each briefly checked into the game during the second half and played only five combined minutes. Perry recorded three rebounds, but neither player scored.
Bradbury said both players became eligible for the game against Xavier on Saturday.
“The plan was to play no minutes and the game just dictated that they could,” Bradbury said of Denham and Perry.
Bradbury said he plans to ease Denham and Perry into the lineup and will evaluate their progress in practice.
The Raiders return to action at home at 7 p.m. Friday against Gardner-Webb in the first round of the Wright State Invitational.
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