The Basics
Score: Saginaw Valley 55, Lake Superior 39
Records: SVSU (15-6, 12-4 GLIAC) | LSSU (4-18, 3-13 GLIAC)
Location: Bud Cooper Gymnasium - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
SAULT STE MARIE, Mich. - The SVSU women's basketball team traveled to Lake Superior State University for a Thursday evening matchup in the upper peninsula. After a Monday night comeback victory at Hillsdale, the Cards kept up the defensive pressure and won their second straight contest in a 55-39 decision over the Lakers.
Saginaw Valley got a third straight double-double from Emily Wendling, as she scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds in the game.
Thursday's game started off very slow offensively, as the first bucket came at the 4:55 marker of the first quarter when Alex Green hit a three-pointer to make the score 3-0. A Wendling layup just 30 seconds later made the score 5-0 for the visitors.
The Lakers responded with seven points in a row to make the score 7-5 but Wendling went to the line with 1:03 left in the quarter and made the second of two free throw attempts, cutting the deficit to 7-6. That's where the score stood as the quarter expired.
SVSU responded with a 16-13 advantage in the second 10 minutes of play, carrying a 22-20 lead into the halftime break. The Lakers extended the lead to 9-6 but another Green triple at the 8:52 point knotted the game at 9-9.
The lead bounced back and forth from there and a Danielle Carriere layup with 1:55 left in the opening half gave SV a 19-18 advantage. Two free throws from Katelyn Carriere made the score 21-18 and another freebie from Nieman with 33 seconds to play made the score 22-20 after a single Laker free throw. That's where the score would stay as the half ended.
Lake Superior opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run, grabbing the lead back and making the score 27-22 with 6:45 showing on the clock.
Those would be the only points scored by the home team in the frame, however, as the Lady Cardinals responded with 12 straight points to make the score 34-27 as the quarter ended. Back to back layups from Wendling, two from Danielle Carriere, another from Katelyn Carriere and two Nieman free throws accounted for the scoring in the quarter for the visitors.
Saginaw Valley posted its best offensive output in the fourth quarter, notching 21 points in the final 10 minutes of play. The quarter began with a 12-0 run for the Cards, making a 24-0 run overall to extend the lead out to 46-27. The first seven points were scored by Wendling and a jumper and triple from Danielle Carriere made their score 46 at the 6:02 marker of the fourth.
A Hannah Settingsgaard three-pointer made the lead 20 points for the first time with 4:42 left to play and a Katelyn Carriere layup made the lead 51-31 at the 2:33 mark, which marked the largest lead of the game. The game's scoring would end with a pair of Nieman free throws with six seconds left, making the final score 55-39.
Inside the Boxscore
- Wendling scored a team-high 14 points and added a career-high on the glass, grabbing 17 rebounds.
- Danielle and Katelyn Carriere each reached double-digits in scoring as well. Danielle chipped-in with five rebounds and five assists while Katelyn added three assists and a career-best two blocks.
- Nieman added eight points, seven boards, three assists and three steals.
- Green posted six points, three assists and a pair of rebounds.
- SVSU had 15 second chance points off 13 offensive rebounds while holding the home squad to just two second chance points.
- The Cards held a 22-14 advantage in points in the paint and posted a 40-33 edge on the glass overall.
- Both teams struggled from the floor, as SV shot 32.8% (19-58) and LSSU was 30.0% (15-50).
- Saginaw Valley went 11-of-15 (73.3%) from the charity stripe while the Lakers hit all four of their free throw tries.
- SV remains in first place in the GLIAC North Division Standings with their 12-4 record, tied with GVSU and Michigan Tech.
- Mackenzie Edwards led LSSU with 15 points and six rebounds.
Meijer "Player of the Game"
Wendling earned Meijer "Player of the Game" honors after her team-high 14 points and career-high 17 rebounds.
From Head Coach Jamie Pewinski...
"This was certainly not the prettiest of wins, but we will take it nonetheless! Our defensive effort was outstanding and we came out much more aggressive in the second half which allowed us to get a lead. The team is just making plays any way they can and it's great to see that effort end up in a victory!"
Up Next for Saginaw Valley
Saginaw Valley returns home for a rival matchup with Northwood University Saturday (Feb. 6) for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off. It's going to be a WHITE OUT at O'Neill Arena for the Cardinals. The Timberwolves are coming off a 92-64 home victory over Hillsdale College.
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