Cardinals fall at UC-San Diego In Tourney Opener, 82-69

Cardinals fall at UC-San Diego In Tourney Opener, 82-69

The Basics

Score: UC-San Diego 82, No. 23 SVSU 69
Records: USD (3-2) | SVSU (3-1)
Location: SAN DIEGO, Calif.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The No. 23-nationally-ranked SVSU women's basketball team dropped a tough road contest in the opening game at the University of Cal-San Diego by a score of 82-69. 

The ladies rebounded from a rough first quarter, where they recorded just a single field goal, and trailed just 22-15 after Katelyn Carriere hit a jumper and two free throws at the 6:14 mark of the second quarter. A pair of Jessica Alexander free throws made the score 31-24, which is where it stood at the half.

A Halee Nieman jumper with 6:26 showing in the third trimmed the deficit down to four points at 36-32 and the visitors cut it to three after buckets from Anna Hall and Emily Wendling with 2:45 left in the third frame put the score at 43-40.

A Carriere three-point play would end the quarter for the Cardinals, cutting the Triton lead to just a single point at 49-48 heading into the fourth and final quarter.

Another Carriere field goal tied the score at 51-51 after she drilled a three-pointer and another layup from the senior guard knotted the score at 53-53. 

A Grace Whelan layup with 5:07 to play made the deficit just two points at 64-62, but that was as close as the Cards would get for the remainder of the contest, falling by the 82-69 final. 

Inside the Boxscore

  • Carriere led the way for Saginaw Valley, as she posted 16 points and crossed the 1,000-point plateau for her career. She earned Meijer "Player of the Game" honors against the Tritons. 
  • Abby Duffy wend 5-of-9 from the floor for 13 points with a team-best five boards.
  • Nieman added 10 points for the Lady Cardinals while grabbing three rebounds for the visitors. 
  • Whelan added seven points while Anna Hall posted seven herself, adding two rebounds, three helpers and two steals. 
  • SVSU posted a 34-30 edge in points in the paint and the SV bench outscored the Tritons, 24-13. 

From Head Coach Jamie Pewinski

"We definitely didn't play the way we wanted to tonight, but we give all the credit to UCSD, as they played a great game. There is a lot for us to take from tonight and we will learn from our mistakes to make us a better team. We look forward to getting back on the court tomorrow!!

Up Next...

SVSU plays Cal State San Marcos on the campus of UC-San Diego on Saturday with a 4:00 p.m. eastern tip-off time. Live stats and video are available for the matchup via the SVSU Women's Basketball schedule here

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