SVSU Women drop tight 56-53 matchup at Northern Michigan

SVSU Women drop tight 56-53 matchup at Northern Michigan

MARQUETTE -- The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team fell 56-53 to the Northern Michigan Wildcats. The Cardinals outscored their opponents 19-9 in the second quarter after finding themselves down by 10 in the first quarter. Entering the locker room the game was tied, 26-26. SVSU kept the contest close but was unable to close and fell by three at the end of the game.

SVSU got out to a slow start as the Wildcats outscored the Cardinals, 17-7, in the first quarter of play. The Cardinals bounced back in the second quarter holding the Wildcats to just nine points and scoring 19 of their own. The Cardinals entered the locker room at the half with the game knotted, 26-26, as Ashley Buchholz and Maddie Maloney led SVSU in scoring with eight and seven points, respectively.

The Cardinals were able to outscore the Wildcats again in the third quarter, 13-11, as Kaitlyn Zarycki led the team with four points from the bench. Entering the fourth quarter the Cardinals led the Wildcats, 39-37.

In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats made a big push to comeback as they outscored the Cardinals, 19-14. The Cardinals were unable to hold off the NMU offensive attack and dropped the game, 56-53. 

Inside the Boxscore

  • Ashley Buchholz led the offensive attack for the Cardinals with 17 points and added six boards and two steals. She was named the Meijer "Player of the Game."
  • Zarycki added 9 points from the bench and had four boards and an assist and a steal for SVSU.
  • SVSU shot 40.4% from the field while NMU was 33.3%. 

From Head Coach Jenny Pruett

"I'm proud of the way we fought back tonight. We got down early when they established their post presence. We changed to a zone which is something we haven't worked on much and they did a great job. Again we struggled with our turnovers and at the free throw line. We out rebounded a very tall and athletic team which is a number I will always be proud of. A week off will give us time to regroup and focus our attention on Northwood."

Up Next...

Saginaw Valley hits the road again for a Sunday (Dec. 15) game at Northwood University. Tip-off will be at 4:00 p.m. You can follow the action live at svsucardinals.com.