The Basics

Score: Saginaw Valley 73, Hillsdale 48
Records: SVSU (5-1, 1-0 GLIAC) | HC (5-2, 0-1 GLIAC)
Location: James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena - University Center, Mich.

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Opening the 2016-17 GLIAC schedule up at home, the Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team started the league schedule strong with a convincing 25-point victory over the visiting Hillsdale College Chargers, 74-48, at SVSU's O'Neill Arena.

The contest started close, with the only two ties coming with the score 2-2 and 4-4. SVSU would slowly extend a lead from there, working it from the tie to a lead of eight points (14-6) at the 5:18 point of the first quarter when Hannah Settingsgaard nailed a three-pointer. A double-digit lead showed with the score 20-10 with 2:35 to play in the first after back-to-back layups from Katelyn Carriere and Halee Nieman. The home side closed-out the opening 10 minutes with a 23-12 edge, as neither team found the bottom of the net for the last 1:35 of the quarter.

Leading 25-16 in the second quarter, the Cardinals posted a 7-0 run, compliments of a jumper and triple from Anna Hall and a layup from Carriere to push the lead out to 32-16. That 16-point lead would come about a few more times in the second, but Jessica Alexander made the front end of two free throws with 38 seconds to go in the opening half, giving Saginaw Valley a 17-point lead heading into the break with the score 39-22.

Having held the Chargers to point totals of 12 and 10 in the first and second quarters, respectively, the Cardinals had a tough third frame in which Hillsdale outscored them by an 18-10 margin to pull within just nine points at 49-40 after the third. The Chargers opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run to make the score 39-31 in SVSU's favor, but an Abby Duffy layup was quick to respond with 5:23 showing on the clock to make the count 41-31. The visitors pulled to within five points (45-40) with 1:07 to go in the third, but that's when another Duffy layup and two free throws from Grace Whelan made the score 49-40, which is where the quarter ended.

The fourth quarter was all Saginaw Valley, as the home squad was led by Emily Wendling, who went for 16 of her 20 points in the final frame in leading the Cardinals to a 24-8 advantage in the quarter. That would allow them to lead by as many as 27 points with the score 73-46 as 2:13 remained on the clock. The Chargers would add a bucket with 1:19 to go, putting the score at the 73-48 final. 

Inside the Boxscore

• Saginaw Valley shot 50.8% (31-61) in the victory while holding Hillsdale to a mark of just 30.1% (22-73).
• The Chargers were 0-of-13 from beyond the arc while the Cards were just 3-of-11.
• Wendling posted a game-high of 20 points after her huge fourth quarter, adding nine rebounds with three blocks, a steal and assist. She earned Meijer Player of the Game honors after her game.
• Duffy pulled-down a career-high 11 rebounds while adding eight points, three assists and a steal.
• Hall posted 12 points, five boards, three assists and a steal.  
• Nieman reached double-figures for the fourth time this season, notching 10 points with seven rebounds and a pair of assists.
• Carriere netted 11 points, four boards, and an assist, steal and block apiece.
• Saginaw Valley out-rebounded Hillsdale by a 48-39 margin and held a 48-38 edge in the paint. 
• The Cardinals led the entire contest except for the pair of early ties.
• SVSU had 25 turnovers and Hillsdale committed 20. The Chargers got 21 points off those turnovers while SVSU had just nine points off turnovers.

From Head Coach Jamie Pewinski

Up Next...

The Cardinals return to their home floor on Saturday (Dec. 3), as the ladies host Lake Erie College in a 1:00 p.m. contest. The Storm (2-4, 0-1 GLIAC) is coming off a narrow 69-67 loss at Wayne State on Thursday night. 

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