The Basics

Score: Saginaw Valley 90, Ferris State 57
Records: SVSU (19-7, 16-5 GLIAC) | FSU (5-22, 5-16 GLIAC)
Location: James E. O'Neill Arena - University Center, Mich.

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The SVSU women's basketball team hosted Ferris State University at O'Neill Arena Saturday night in GLIAC North Division action. Looking to avenge an earlier loss this season to the Bulldogs, the Cards got a career-high 32 points from freshman forward Halee Nieman and led wire-to-wire for a 33-point victory, 90-57.

Nieman started the first quarter strong, hitting two three-pointers by the 7:30 mark, bringing the Cardinals ahead 6-2. Saginaw Valley drove the lead up to eight after a three-point shot from Katelyn Carriere at the 3:42 mark. Danielle Carriere posted a layup, followed by a triple, to extend the home team's lead to 10 points (21-11) with 1:35 left in the period. Grace Whelan added a layup with 53 seconds on the clock to keep the lead at 10, 23-13, as they headed into the second quarter.

The Cardinals continued to increase their lead up in the second half, taking it up to 15 (28-13) at the 8:25 mark after two buckets and a free throw from Nieman. Whelan notched another layup and free throw to convert on a three-point play and that was followed by another layup from Nieman to put the Cardinals up by 20 points to end the opening half, 43-23.

Alex Green hit a jump shot at the start of the third period, extending the lead to 22 points (45-23) at the 8:54 minute marker. The Bulldogs cut the gap to 16 points (47-31) at the 5:25 mark before the Cardnals came back to put it up to 22 points once again, 53-21, with 4:15 showing on the clock. A three-point play from Nieman and a layup from her put the lead there. Danielle Carriere shot back-to-back triples to give SV their largest lead yet of 31 points with 24 seconds on the clock in the third.

Ferris's Rachel McInerney made good on a layup attempt to end the quarter with the score 40-69 in SVSU's favor.

In the fourth quarter, Emily Wendling hit a layup at the 8:42 mark, putting SV up by 33 points, 73-40. Saginaw Valley reached its largest lead of 35 points after Abby Schlicher made a jumper with 1:28 left in the game to push the score to 90-55.

Abby Nakfoor hit on a layup for the Bulldogs with a minute left to make the score 90-57 and that's what the score would remain as time expired.

Inside the Boxscore

• Nieman led the game and posted a career-high of 32 points, shooting 10-of-14 from the floor, a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc and 9-of-11 from the foul line. She added four steals and a pair of rebounds as well. 
• Wendling notched 13 points, four rebounds, three steals and an assist. The three steals match a career-high for her.
• Danielle Carriere and Grace Whelan each posted 11 points. Carriere added four assists and two rebounds with Whelan posting one rebound and a steal.
• Katelyn Carriere added eight points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block for another solid all-around effort.
• Anna Hall grabbed a game-high seven boards and added six points and three assists.
• Saginaw Valley shot 53.4% (31-of-58) from the floor while Ferris shot 42.9% (21-of-49).
• The Cardinals out-rebounded the Bulldogs 32-22 and had 36 points in the paint compared to Ferris's 24.
• Both teams show well from deep, with SVSU hitting on 9-of-16 (56.3%) tries and the Bulldogs connecting on half of their three-pointers (5-of-10).
• The SV bench had 29 points and Ferris State's reserves posted 26 points.
• Saginaw Valley scored at least 20 points in each of the four quarters. (23-20-26-21).
• The victory marks three straight wins for SVSU, having defeated Michigan Tech, Grand Valley State and the Bulldogs.
• The Cards scored 90 points for the second time this season, adding to the 95 scored in a 95-61 win at Purdue-Calumet on November 28th.
• Ferris was led by Rachel McInerney, who had 17 points and four rebounds.

Meijer "Player of the Game"

Nieman earned Meijer "Player of the Game" plaudits after her career night, scoring 32 points while adding four steals and a pair of rebounds. The 32 points match a season-best for the team, as Katelyn Carriere hit that number in a victory at Findlay on January 7th. 

From freshman forward Halee Nieman...

Up Next for Saginaw Valley

Saginaw Valley, having clinched a home game for the GLIAC Tournament quarterfinals round, hosts Hillsdale College in the final game of the regular season on Thursday (Feb. 25). Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. at O'Neill Arena. The Chargers are coming off a 71-65 loss at home to Grand Valley State. The Lady Cardinals won the earlier matchup this season between the teams, coming away with a 76-74 comeback victory in Hillsdale.

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