The Basics

Score: No. 12 Ashland 72, Saginaw Valley 57
Records: AU (8-0, 4-0 GLIAC) | SVSU (4-4, 1-2 GLIAC)
Location: Kates Gymnasium - Ashland, Ohio

Ashland, Ohio - The SVSU women's basketball team traveled to face the No. 12 team in the country on Saturday (Dec. 12) afternoon, as the Lady Cardinals squared-off against the Ashland University Eagles. Despite running out to a quick lead in the game, SVSU would end up dropping the game by a final score of 72-57 in AU's Kates Gymnasium.

Back-to-back layups from Anna Hall and Halee Nieman gave SV an early 4-0 advantage to open the contest. A layup from Emily Wendling at the 3:58 marker and a three-pointer from Danielle Carriere just 34 seconds later gave the visitors a 14-6 lead with 3:24 to play in the opening quarter.

The Eagles, however, would respond and score the next nine points of the opening frame and hit a triple at the buzzer to take a 15-14 edge into the first break.

Ashland posted a 20-8 edge in the second quarter to take a 35-22 lead into the halftime break. All eight points from the Cards in the quarter came from Wendling. 

Wendling scored on a layup at the 7:30 marker in the third quarter, giving her 12 for the game and 1,000 points for her career at SVSU. 

Saginaw Valley cut into the deficit a bit and a three-point play from Nieman with just 20 seconds left in the third made the score 54-38 in Ashland's advantage when time expired for the quarter.

The Cards would outscore the Eagles 19-18 in the fourth and final quarter, as Hannah Settingsgaard led the team in the frame with six points and Danielle Carriere added five. Ashland would be able to close out for the victory though, 72-57.

Inside the Boxscore

• Wendling surpassed the 1,000 point mark for her career at SVSU early into her junior campaign. She led the Cards with team-highs of 14 points and five rebounds, adding two blocks while playing in a team-high 33 minutes.
•  Danielle Carriere reached double-digits in scoring as well, notching 10 points with two rebounds and a steal.
• Nieman, Hall and Katelyn Carriere all scored eight points apiece as well to contribute to the offensive effort.
• Alex Green matched Wendling's team-high five boards and added a team-best five assists.
• Settingsgaard's six fourth quarter points were a high for her young career for the Cards.
• Ashland shot 45.5% (30-66) from the floor and SVSU went 22-of-51 (43.1%) from the field.
• The Eagles scored 23 points off 22 SVSU turnovers while the Cardinals had just eight off Ashland's 15 turnovers. 
• AU held the edge in rebounds (39-26) and points in the paint (46-30) while the Cardinals' bench outscored the Eagles by a 16-15 mark.

Meijer "Player of the Game"

Wendling earned Meijer "Player of the Game" plaudits, as she had team-highs of 14 points and five boards while crossing the 1,000-point mark in just her 63rd career game.

Up Next for Saginaw Valley

The Lady Cardinals continue play on the road on Saturday (Dec. 19) at Lake Erie College. The Storm (4-4, 1-2 GLIAC) are coming off a 63-53 home loss to Hillsdale College.