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ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies begin their final stretch of six games, playing one road game and one home game this week as they travel to Indianapolis to take on the IU Indy (IUI) Jags before returning home this weekend to face Wright State (WSU).
With the regular season winding down, Oakland (8-16, 5-9 HL) sits eighth in the Horizon League standings. After a hot stretch in which they won five of six games through mid-January, Oakland has dropped three straight, most recently falling to Detroit Mercy on Feb. 7.
Oakland’s depth has been tested, as guards Angie Smith and Cali Denson are both sidelined with injuries. As a result, the Golden Grizzlies have had to look elsewhere for production on both ends of the court. Freshman Makenzie Luehring has solidified herself as a top talent in the conference, while players like Layla Gold, Jazzy Dupree-Hebert, and Sereniti Roberts-Adams have stepped up in expanded roles.
Gold tallied 14 points against the Titans and has been a major contributor on the defensive end, ranking third in the conference in blocks per game (1.2) and first on the team in rebounds per game (4.6). Roberts-Adams recorded her second double-double of the season last time out with 10 points and 10 rebounds, playing the five spot as Oakland has more frequently utilized a two-big lineup alongside Lianna Baxter. While Dupree-Hebert’s impact may not always show up on the stat sheet, she has stepped into the starting lineup with unmatched hustle and gritty play, while also providing a threat from the three-point line and excelling as an off-ball cutter.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11 at IU INDY | 6:30 PM | ESPN+
The Golden Grizzlies and the Jags will meet for the second time this season. Oakland secured a 64-61 win over IUI on Jan. 28, as the Golden Grizzlies’ defense shut down the Jags, holding them to .373 shooting from the field and limiting leading scorer Nevaeh Foster to just four points.
Oakland returns to The Jungle for the first time since its 2024-25 Horizon League Championship first-round win over the Jags and will look to leapfrog IUI in the standings once again.
IU Indy (10-13, 6-8 HL) sits one spot above Oakland in seventh place in the Horizon League. Riding a two-game winning streak, the Jags most recently defeated Wright State 73-63 on Feb. 7 and are aiming to continue building momentum.
The Jags’ offense has been clicking, scoring 70 or more points in four of their last five games and moving into fifth place among conference scoring offenses. Foster leads the way, averaging 12.6 points per game.
SATURDAY, FEB. 14 vs. WRIGHT STATE | 2 PM | ESPN+
The Raiders (7-18, 3-11 HL) enter the week in 10th place in the conference, having lost eight of their last nine games. Despite a difficult season record-wise, WSU is just a few wins away from significantly improving its position in the standings.
Oakland and Wright State will meet for the first time since the opening day of conference play, when the Raiders eked out a 61-57 win over the Golden Grizzlies. Despite nearly identical shooting numbers overall and from the field, WSU held the advantage at the free-throw line. Baxter led Oakland with 18 points and seven rebounds, battling Claire Henson, who posted 17 points and 10 rebounds.
In conference play, the Raiders rank second worst in both offense (61.5 ppg) and defense (73.0 oppg). While Wright State has struggled as the season has progressed, guard Breezie Williams has been a bright spot, averaging 12.8 points, 2.2 steals, 3.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game as the team’s do-it-all player.
Oakland looks to climb the standings and push for a higher playoff spot in this week’s matchups.