SLIPPERY ROCK - The score at halftime was the same. Only this time there was no second-half letdown.

After watching a 37-29 halftime advantage grow to 18 points and then whither away to nothing against Fairmont State (W.Va.) last week, the Slippery Rock University women's basketball team found itself with the same advantage at the half against Wayne State Monday at Morrow Field House.

But The Rock (4-1) didn't have to claw back to win this one. Instead, it staved off a Warriors rally and prevailed 70-57.

"We try not to think about the past," said Slippery Rock coach Laurel Heilman. "We definitely talked about it. Basketball is a game of runs. It's all about momentum."

It was in the back of the minds of the players, who showed some in intensity after Wayne State made a run in the second half.

"We always know if we're up on a team, they are going to try everything to scratch their way back," said junior point guard Amber McFeely. "(Against Fairmont State) we were all frustrated with each other and weren't on the same page. Tonight we had the attitude to do it as one. We're a team."

SRU's Kristen Bonner, who scored 12 points in the first half, hit a 3-pointer with two minutes left to give The Rock a nine-point lead after the Warriors (2-2) cut a 16-point deficit to just six with a 15-5 run.

Bonner scored a game-high 22 points.

"Kristen had a great first half again," Heilman said. "She has a pretty good understanding of what is a good shot and what isn't."

Wayne State, which made the five-hour trip to The Rock from Detroit, had a simple game plan: apply massive amounts of pressure in the hopes of forcing turnovers.

The Warriors were particularly bent on keeping the ball out of McFeely's hands - with mixed results.

When the Grove City High School graduate did get her hands on the basketball, she made the most of her opportunities, scoring 15 points and dishing out eight assists.

Heilman has stressed early in the season the need for McFeely to score more points.

McFeely has heeded those words.

"I know my teammates are going to be there to catch my passes," McFeely said. "Every day coach tells me I am so much faster and I should just blow by the person guarding me an score."

McFeely did that against Wayne State. She scored nine of her points in the second half, many on pull-up jumpers near the basket.

"She's been working hard on her short jumpers," Heilman said. "When the ball's in her hands, she's our best creator, and she came through tonight. She was double-teamed a lot."

To McFeely that is a compliment, but it's also a slap in the face to her teammates.

"I want people to respect me as a player," McFeely said. "But I want more for them to respect us as a team."

That might not be such a hard sell now after four straight wins over quality opponents.

"It's too early to tell," Heilman said. "We're just taking baby steps."

Shatona Clark paced Wayne State with 18 points. The Warriors were outrebounded 48-37 and were an abysmal 6-of-27 from 3-point range.

"You did not see a well-played Wayne State basketball game," said Warriors' coach Gloria Bradley. "My best shooter was 1-of-8 on wide open threes. We didn't play well."

WAYNE STATE (57)

Shatona Clark 6-9 2-2 18, Cherita Smith 5-14 0-0 10, Kristen Rogers 5-21 1-1 12, Nicole Rogers 1-6 3-6 6, Ralphanee Peyton 2-5 1-2 5, Crystal Steward 1-4 0-0 2, Daijon Jefferson 0-0 0-0 0, Shatarian Lee-Hall 0-0 0-0 0, Jenna Cooper 0-0 0-0 0, Bethany Mesko 2-5 0-0 4, Casey Banks 0-0 0-0 0, Brittany White 0-0 0-0 0, Alia Clark 0-4 0-0 0, Helen Pettway 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-68 7-11 57.

SLIPPERY ROCK (70)

Amber McFeely 5-8 5-7 15, Angela Greaser 0-4 0-0 0, Stacey Green 3-12 3-4 9, Kristen Bonner 8-16 0-0 22, Erin Frankovich 2-8 0-0 4, Amanda Chojnacki 1-4 6-6 8, Jess Caso 3-3 1-2 7, Anett Fekete 0-0 0-0 0, Shawnette Patterson 1-1 3-5 5. Totals: 23-56 18-24 70

Halftime - SRU, 37-29. 3-point goals - Wayne State 6-27 (S. Clark 4-5, Smith 0-5, K. Rogers 1-8, N. Rogers 1-4, Mesko 0-3, A. Clark 0-2), SRU 6-13 (McFeely 0-1, Greaser 0-2, Green 0-1, Bonner 6-9). Rebounds - Wayne State 37 (Smith, K. Rogers, Peyton, Mesko 5), SRU 48 (Chojnacki 9). Assists - Wayne State 14 (K. Rogers 4), SRU 18 (McFeely 8). Total fouls - Wayne State 20, SRU 15. Fouled out - Nicole Rogers (Wayne State); Technical fouls - none.