Women's Basketball Claims Third Straight Victory in OT Decision Over Walsh

Freshman Anna Hall had another solid all-around game for the Lady Cardinals on Sunday...
Freshman Anna Hall had another solid all-around game for the Lady Cardinals on Sunday...

The Basics

Score: Saginaw Valley 80, Walsh 72 - OT
Records: SVSU (7-4, 4-2 GLIAC) | WU (7-4, 4-2 GLIAC)
Location: James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena - University Center, Mich.

University Center, Mich. - The SVSU women's basketball team notched its third straight victory after posting an overtime victory over Walsh University on Sunday (Jan. 3) evening. The Cardinals overcame a late three by the Cavaliers that forced the overtime session and ended the game on an 18-2 run to post an 80-72 GLIAC victory.

After SVSU's Emily Wendling scored the game's first bucket, the Cavaliers were able to pull ahead to a 10-6 lead by the 5:11 mark of the first period.

The Cardinals came back quickly, taking the lead at 12-10 with two layups from Wendling and another from Anna Hall in less than a minute. That's where the score would remain after the first quarter of play.

Walsh grabbed a quick lead at 15-14 at the 8:33 marker of the second, but the Cardinals came back and widened their lead to seven points (22-15) after an 8-0 run that was capped-off by a Katelyn Carriere layup with 6:12 to go in the half. SV remained out front for the remainder of the half after Carriere hit a triple with just 37 seconds left to make the score 27-23 heading into the halftime break.

The lead bounced back-and-forth in the third frame until the game was tied for the third time of the quarter and sixth time of the game when Walsh hit a jumper to make the score 42-42 with just under a minute left in the third.

The Cardinals had to fight for the lead in the final period, tying it up three times in the first four minutes. Danielle Carriere hit a three-pointer with 1:27 left in regulation to give SV its largest advantage of the quarter at 60-56.

The lead would dwindle to one point (60-59) with 31 seconds left but Katelyn Carriere hit a pair of critical free throws to push the Cardinal advantage out to 62-59.

Walsh's Brooklyn Wooten, however, would make a deep triple to knot the score at 62-62. 

The Cards would get one final look as Hall had a toughly-contested layup that she couldn't convert on and the game would head into overtime.

The Cavaliers put the pressure on in the extra session and went on an early 8-0 run to take the lead at 70-62, their largest lead of the game, at the 3:27 mark.

Saginaw Valley answered in a huge way, running out a 10-0 run of its own after a three-point play from Wendling, a three from Hall, and pairs of free throws from Danielle and Katelyn Carriere, respectively. That made the score 72-70 in the home team's favor. 

Following a Cavalier layup, the Cards went on another 8-0 run to finish the game, using clutch free throw shooting to seal the victory. Katelyn Carriere, Hall, and Wendling all connected on freebies down that stretch to make the final reading on the scoreboard 80-72 in SVSU's favor.

Inside the Boxscore

  • Wendling followed up her season-high 31 points on Saturday with another big game, posting a game-high 29 points and season-best 15 rebounds. Wendling was a perfect nine-of-nine in free throws and 10-of-15 from the floor, adding four assists and three blocks. 
  • Katelyn Carriere posted 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds while adding six assists and a steal.
  • Halee Nieman and Anna Hall each recorded 13 points. Hall hauled-in a career-high eight rebounds as well with three assists and a steal while Nieman added five boards, for helpers and a steal.
  • Danielle Carriere netted seven points and five rebounds for the Cards.
  • SVSU shot 43.1% (28-65) from the floor and compared to Walsh's 35.2% (25-71).
  • The Cards went a perfect 19-of-19 from the foul line, matching a school record for free throw percentage in a game.
  • The Cardinals had a solid 57-30 advantage in rebounds over the Cavaliers and posted a 40-26 edge in points in the paint.
  • Alex Hochstedler led Walsh with 20 points, going 6-of-15 from the floor.

Meijer "Player of the Game"

Wendling earned Meijer "Player of the Game" once more after her 29 point, 15 rebound performance. She added four assists and three blocks in the effort as well. 

From Head Coach Jamie Pewinski...

Up Next for Saginaw Valley

The Lady Cardinals square-off against the University of Findlay Thursday (Jan. 7) evening. The Oilers are coming off a 75-35 loss at Grand Valley State on Sunday. The game will be played at Findlay's Croy Gymnasium.

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