By Dave Long

Contributing Writer

Wright State got two free throws from Kim Demmings with 4.2 seconds remaining to ensure a 75-71 women’s basketball victory over IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis) Wednesday night.

It was the home opener for the 1-1 Raiders played before 408 fans at the Nutter Center. IUPUI is also 1-1.

It was an inconsistent performance for WSU, which has seven new faces on the roster, all getting significant playing time. All either became eligible this season after transferring from other colleges and sitting out last year or coming in from two-year colleges.

“We made it harder than it should have been,” WSU coach Mike Bradbury said. “We built that 10-point lead (65-55 with 6:38 to go) and then couldn’t convert on our chances to put it away.

“IUPUI is a real good team and came back at us. But, thankfully, we made our free throws when we needed to. With so many new faces, we’re going to be a work in progress for a good part of the season.”

Demmings, a 5-foot-8 sophomore from Richmond, Ind., had 14 of her game-high 16 points in the second half. She sat out the last seven minutes of the first half with two fouls.

Breanna Stucke, a 6-foot sophomore from Tippecanoe High School, had one of her best games with 15 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Kayla LaMotte, a 5-8 junior from Mason, also had 15 points followed by 11 from Mylan Woods (5-11 sophomore from Strongsville) and 10 from KC Elkins (5-6 junior from West Jefferson).

Brianna Innocent, a 6-1 junior from Vandalia Butler, came off the bench for six points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes.

After Stucke provided a 10-point lead with 6:38 to go, WSU missed six chances to build the lead. IUPUI chipped away and got within 73-71 with 5.8 seconds to go.

Demmings, who had 15 points in an opening-game loss last week at Southeast Missouri, was fouled getting the inbounds pass and nailed both free throws.

Wright State’s last 10 points came from the free-throw line, where they hit 25 of 38 shots.