UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team fell to Lewis University tonight (Nov. 10) by a final score of 70-60 in their season opener as host of the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge.
The Cardinals ran out to a 5-2 lead after Katelyn Carriere (London, Ontario / John Paul II) drove to the hoop for two with 16:53 to play in the first half. After Lewis took an 11-9 lead, Briana Graham (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King HS / Iona College) evened the score with a jumper with just over 11 minutes to play.
With under five minutes left in the half, Meijer 'Player of the Game' Kayla Womack (Gross Point Woods, Mich. / North HS) tied the score at 20-20 on a layup. From there, the Cardinals outscored the Flyers 10-7, to take a 30-27 lead at the half.
The trio of Womack, Samantha Zirzow (Goodrich, Mich.) and Emily Wendling (Flushing, Mich.) paced SVSU in scoring in the first half with seven points each. Zirzow pulled down a team-high six rebounds in the half.
Freshman Alex Green (East Lansing, Mich.) gave the Cardinals an early four point advantage with a jumper at the 18:41 mark of the second half.
Saginaw Valley increased their lead to 40-35 after a jumper by Womack. After a Lewis run, the Cardinals reclaimed a 46-45 lead on a layup by Katelyn Carriere with just over ten minutes left to play.
Lewis responded with a 10-0 run in the latter part of the second half to take a 61-52 advantage. Wendling brought SVSU within seven (65-59) as she slashed to the hoop for a layup.
However, Saginaw Valley was unable to get any closer as Lewis played tough defense down the stretch and came away with the victory by a score of 70-60.
Kayla Womack led the Cardinals on offense with 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting, while Samantha Zirzow posted 12 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Emily Wendling tacked on 12 points and five rebounds on the evening.
SVSU will return to action on Sunday (Nov. 11) afternoon at 3:00 PM when they host St. Joseph's University on the final afternoon of the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge.