UNIVERSITY CENTER – The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team hosted the Ferris State University Bulldogs in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division matchup on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 31) inside James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena. The Lady Cardinals had all 10 players score, but the Bulldogs proved to be too much and walked away with a 77-48 victory.
Ferris State scored the first 10-of-14 points, taking a 10-4 lead at the 15:15 mark.
SVSU answered by scoring the game's next 14 points to open up an eight-point advantage (18-10) with 9:19 remaining in the first half. Five different Cardinals scored during the team's 14-0 run, including triples by junior Alex Green and freshman Jessica Alexander.
The Lady Cardinals took their largest lead of the game of 11 points (23-12) following a Danielle Carriere three-pointer at the 8:09 marker. A pair of Emily Wendling free throws with 6:45 showing on the clock made the score 25-15.
The Bulldogs closed the final 6:45 of the first half on a 20-0 run to take a 35-25 lead into the halftime break.
Alexander led the way offensively for SVSU in the first 20 minutes, scoring six points. Carriere chipped-in with five points, seven rebounds and three assists in the opening frame.
Wendling opened the second half by scoring the first four points, cutting the Bulldog lead down to six points (35-29) with just under 19 minutes showing on the game clock.
FSU used another double-digit run (11-0) to take a 17-point lead at 46-29 at the 15:10 mark. Senior Samantha Zirzow put an end to the run with a three-point play to make the score 46-32 with 14:39 to play in the second half.
Sophomore Abby Schlicher would knock-down a jumper to pull the home team within 12 points (46-34) with just over 14 minutes to play in the half. The 12 points, however, is as close as the Cards would get the remainder of the game.
Ferris State responded to the five straight Cardinal points by scoring the game's next 13 points to take a 59-34 lead with 9:12 showing on the clock. The Bulldogs led by as many as 31 points in the contest.
Green's layup with 20 seconds left rounded-out the scoring to make the final score 77-48.
Wendling was the only Lady Cardinal in double-figures as she scored 10 points, including going a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. She is hitting on 86.8% (92-106) of her free throw attempts this season. Her 92 freebies are second in the league. The junior pulled-down nine rebounds as well. She was named the Meijer "Player of the Game" for the eighth time this season for her performance.
Zirzow and Alexander each chipped-in with eight points while Green and Carriere netted five points-apiece.
SVSU held the advantage on the glass (39-38), while securing 10 offensive rebounds that led to six second chance points.
Saginaw Valley returns to O'Neill Arena on Monday night (Feb. 2) for another GLIAC North Division matchup, as it hosts the Hillsdale College Chargers (12-6, 8-6 GLIAC). Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
