ASHLAND, Ohio - The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team started a swing through the state of Ohio on Monday night with a contest at Ashland University, the defending Division II National Champions. The Lady Cardinals put forth a good effort and, despite holding a lead halfway through the second half, couldn't hold on as the Eagles claimed an 84-78 victory at Kates Gymnasium.
Saginaw Valley took a quick 3-0 lead to open the game after sophomore guard Katelyn Carriere drained a three-pointer just a minute in and extended the lead to six points at 12-6 at the 16:46 mark in the first half.
The lead would hold until there was 14:10 left in the half, when Ashland tied the score at 16-16 on a good jumper. The score was tied twice more in the opening frame, but the Eagles failed to let SVSU take the lead back and carried a slim 39-37 lead into the halftime break.
That would not hold true for long, however, as Carriere hit another triple to open scoring for the second half, giving the team a 40-37 lead 22 seconds into the half.
AU reclaimed the lead at the 16:24 marker with the score 47-46 after consecutive Suzy Wollenhaupt jumpers and extended its lead out to 51-46.
Trailing 56-49, the Cards rattled-off seven points in a row to knot the game at 56 points-apiece with 12:54 remaining in the game.
A layup from senior guard Kristen Greene at the 11:31 mark gave SV a 63-61 advantage before Ashland tied the game at 63-63 with 10:23 remaining.
The Eagles then went on an 8-0 run to extend the score out to 71-63 at the 6:50 marker.
Saginaw Valley closed the gap to four points, but Ashland was able to close-out for the six point victory, 84-78.
SVSU shot 45.2% (28-62) from the floor in the game and 46.7% (7-15) from three, but struggled from the free throw line, going just 15-23 for a 65.2 percentage.
The Cardinals out-rebounded Ashland by a margin of 40-35 and led in bench scoring, 16-14.
Carriere led all scorers with 24 points, adding three rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes of action. She was named the Meijer "Player of the Game" for her efforts.
Greene added 18 points and six rebounds while fellow senior guard Kayla Womack also reached double-figures in scoring, netting 12 points and adding team-highs of eight rebounds and five assists.
Saginaw Valley falls to 4-2 overall on the season and 2-1 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play after the defeat. Ashland improves to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in league play. The Lady Cardinals continue their trip through Ohio and play at Lake Erie College on Wednesday (Dec. 18) in a 6:00 pm contest. The Storm will enter the tilt with a 5-4 overall record and 0-3 mark in the GLIAC.