UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. -  The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team hosted Ferris State University Thursday (Feb. 18) in a GLIAC North Division match-up, and defeated the Bulldogs by a score of 66-50.  The victory moves the Lady Cardinals to 6-18 overall on the season with a 4-15 GLIAC record.  The Bulldogs fall to 6-18 overall, holding a 5-14 mark in league play.

The Lady Cardinals carried a 31-23 advantage heading into halftime.  SVSU's first lead of the contest was at the 19:12 mark, when they led, 3-2.  Saginaw would lead throughout the first 20 minutes, leading by as many as eight twice before the eight-point halftime advantage, once with the score 24-16 with 3:53 left in the frame and another at 29-21, when there was 1:30 left on the clock for the first half.  Senior guard Kelley Wesp (Cincinnati, Ohio/Glen Este HS) led the scoring attack in the first, netting seven points.  Junior forward Brittany Burkhardt (West Bloomfield, Mich./Walled Lake Central HS) had six and senior forward Jenna Saarela (Saugatuck, Mich./Michigan Tech) added five in the opening period.

In the second half, SVSU would not relinquish its lead.  The Lady Cardinals led by as many as 21 points twice in the final 20 minutes.  Solid play throughout the rest of the game would help Saginaw preserve the 16-point victory. 

Saarela matched a career-high with 11 points in 28 minutes of action in the ballgame.  Sophomore guard Marah Kyle (Bluffton, Ind.) also had 11 points in the contest.  Freshman forward Jasmine Kennedy (Harper Woods, Mich./Grosse Pointe North HS) had nine points and a game-high four assists and Burkhardt netted eight points in the victory.  SVSU will be in action again on Saturday (Feb. 20) against the Grand Valley State University Lakers in another GLIAC North Division contest.  The Cardinals are holding a PINK-OUT, as all attendees are asked to help SVSU raise money to fight breast cancer by wearing pink to the games.