The Basics

Score: Northern Michigan 67, Saginaw Valley 61
Records: NMU (11-13, 10-8 GLIAC) | SVSU (16-7, 13-5 GLIAC)
Location: James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena - University Center, Mich.

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The SVSU women's basketball team hosted Northern Michigan University on Thursday (Feb. 11) in a GLIAC North Division matchup. The Wildcats would work to a 32-24 halftime lead and would hold on for the victory at O'Neill Arena, 67-61.

SVSU's Grace Whelan opened the game's scoring with a layup at the 8:14 mark to give the home team the 2-0 advantage. The Cardinals kept the lead until Bre Gaspervich hit on a layup with 4:52 left in the period, making the score 6-5 in Northern's advantage.

After a couple Halee Nieman free throws for the Lady Cardinals with 37 seconds left in the opening quarter, Gaspervich made a layup that pushed the lead out to double digits for the second time, 20-10. That's what the score remained as the opening quarter came to an end.

Northern Michigan kept their momentum at the start of the second period, pulling ahead to a game-high of 18 points (32-14) at the 4:55 minute mark.

Saginaw Valley was able to amp up their defense and shut Northern out for the rest of the half, however, posting 10 unanswered points to cut the deficit to eight before heading into halftime, 32-24. Hannah Settingsgaard started the string of points with two free throws, followed by an Anna Hall layup, two Wendling buckets and a Nieman layup. 

Wendling kicked-off the second half by making good on a layup attempt just 10 seconds into the third frame. Katelyn Carriere and Alex Green each posted a basket after that, pulling the Cardinals within four points of the Wildcats (34-30) at the 8:14 minute mark. Anna Hall followed up with a three pointer and a layup at the 6:12 mark, making the score just 37-35 in Northern's favor. 

The Wildcats pushed the lead back up to nine points (44-35) with 3:46 showing on the clock for the quarter and, despite two Settingsgaard freebies and a Katelyn Carriere layup, the 'Cats got a triple from Chloe Tompkins with just over a minute showing to make the score 47-39. Katelyn Carriere finished the quarter with a layup for the home team though, ending the frame with NMU leading 47-41.

SV came back within two points of Northern (47-45) at the start of the fourth quarter after a jump shot from Wendling and two free throws from Katelyn Carriere.

A 13-2 run from the visitors, however, gave them a 59-47 lead at the 3:48 marker of the game.

The Lady Cardinals would work their way back a bit, but the Wildcats would hold on for a six point victory, 67-61.

Inside the Boxscore

• Katelyn Carriere led the Cardinals with 18 points, shooting 6-of-16 from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Carriere also grabbed two rebounds.
• Wendling posted 14 points and a team-best seven boards, adding two steals and a pair of blocks. 
• Hall contributed nine points, three steals, one assist and one rebound.
• Nieman posted a career high six steals while adding six points, three rebounds, three assists and a block.
• Settingsgaard also posted six points, three assists, three rebounds and a steal. All six of her points came from the foul line.
• The Wildcats posted a 55.8% (24-43) shooting percentage while the Cards shot just 37.9 %(22-58).
• Northern Michigan held the edge on the glass 37-21 and narrowly in the paint, 32-28.
• SVSU had just 11 turnovers while forcing 26 for the visitors. That led to 21 points off turnovers for SVSU. 
• Gaspervich led the Wildcats with a game-high 24 points, adding six boards, six assists and three steals.

Meijer "Player of the Game"

Carriere earned Meijer "Player of the Game" plaudits for her team-best 18 points and two boards. 

Up Next for Saginaw Valley

Saginaw Valley hosts Michigan Tech Saturday (Feb. 13) at 1:00 p.m. Tech is 15-6 overall and 13-4 in the conference and are coming of a 68-41 victory at Hillsdale on Thursday. The Huskies are in first place in the GLIAC North Division (14-4) while SVSU now sits in a tie for second in the division with GVSU (13-5).

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