UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team closed the regular season against No. 2 Grand Valley State University on Senior Day on Saturday at the James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena.
The Cardinals trailed by 11 at the break, but chipped away in the second half, cutting the deficit to three in the final minutes. The Lakers closed the door on defense and took the win 56-49.
The loss ends the regular season for the Cardinals with a record of 16-10 overall and 11-8 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The GLIAC Postseason Tournament begins for SVSU on Wednesday.
NOTE: The Cardinals honored the 2022 senior class with a ceremony prior to the game, including Maddie Barrie, Maddie Maloney, Ashley Buchholz, and Kyndall Spires.
How it Happened:
- The Cardinals started fast with Kaitlyn Zarycki hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the opening minutes to put SVSU up 8-3.
- After the Lakers came back to tie it at 8-8, Tori DePerry scored four straight points to put SVSU up 12-8.
- The Lakers ended the first half on an 11-2 run to build a 32-21 advantage at the half.
- Maddie Barrie hit a jumper with 7 minutes to play in the third to cut the GVSU lead to five points.
- Ellie Droste hit a layup in the final minute of the third to put the Lakers up 45-36 heading to the fourth.
- After a make from Zarycki midway through the fourth cut the GVSU advantage to five, Emily Spitzley hit a 3-pointer for the Lakers to put them back up 52-44.
- DePerry connected on a 3-point play to pull the Cardinals within three points with under 3 minutes to play.
- The Lakers held the Cardinals off the board the rest of the way and escaped with the 56-49 win.
Inside the Box Score:
- Kaitlyn Zarycki led the Cardinals with 21 points on 9-of-21 shooting. She added seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
- Tori DePerry scored seven points and added six rebounds.
Up Next:
The Cardinals will play next in the GLIAC Postseason Tournament as the No. 7 seed against No. 2 seed Ferris State University on Wednesday in Big Rapids, Mich. SVSU split with the Bulldogs earlier this season, with each team winning at home.
