MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team fell to Northern Michigan University today (Feb. 25), 76-61, in their 2011-12 season finale. The Cardinals finish the season with a 6-20 overall record and 4-15 in the GLIAC, while the Wildcats improve to 13-13 on the year and 9-10 in the conference with the victory.

Samantha Zirzow (Goodrich, Mich.) gave the Cardinals an early 8-5 lead when she layed in a bucket at the 15:15 mark of the first half thanks to an assist by Grace Herzog (Linden, Mich./Powers Catholic HS). Zirzow finished off her freshman season with 12 points for the contest.

Northern Michigan knocked down back-to-back three pointers before Aysha Boston (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) forced a Wildcat turnover and converted it into points and a 12-11 lead with 11:21 to go in the half.

Saginaw Valley pushed their lead to 16-11 after Meijer "Player of the Game" Kristen Greene (Brown City, Mich.) knocked down a jumper midway through the half. Greene posted a team-high 15 points and six rebounds.

After Northern Michigan went on a run and reclaimed the lead, Herzog connected on a jumper bringing SVSU within one, 26-25, with four minutes to play.

The Wildcats connected on eight three-pointers in the first half and took a 36-31 halftime advantage.

The Cardinals answered an early Wildcat run when a Kayla Womack (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./North HS) layup cut the deficit to 43-39 at the 15:36 mark of the second half. Womack recorded 14 points on the afternoon.

However, Saginaw Valley was unable keep pace with Northern Michigan in the second half as the Wildcats went on to victory, 76-61.

SVSU fired 41.8 percent from the floor and 85.7 percent from the foul line on 12-of-14 shooting. Northern Michigan connected on 16 three-pointers in the contest to fuel their victory.

This contest concludes the 2011-12 Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball season under first-year head coach Jamie Pewinski.