The Basics 

Score: Saginaw Valley 70, Ferris State 68
Records: SVSU (13-3, 9-1 GLIAC) | FSU (3-13, 2-8 GLIAC) 
Location: O'Neill Arena - University Center, Mich. 

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The SVSU women's basketball team hosted the Ferris State University Bulldogs on Thursday night in GLIAC North Division play. The Cardinals were part of a close game, being pushed to the limits by the Bulldogs, but surviving in overtime for a 70-68 victory. The win was the fifth straight for Saginaw Valley. 

After an early tie, SVSU scored seven straight points to take a 9-2 edge, having the run capped-off by a pair of Hannah Settingsgaard free throws with 6:10 showing on the clock for the first quarter. The lead reached seven points twice more in the frame and as many as eight points at 16-8 after Francesca Coury connected on her only three-pointer of the contest with 2:49 on the clock. After Ferris cut that lead to 16-12, a triple from Settingsgaard put the lead back at seven (16-12). Two foul shots from the Bulldogs would then cut the deficit to 19-14, which is where it stood heading into the second quarter.

Ferris State cut the SVSU lead down to three points a pair of times in the second quarter, the second coming with the score 27-24 with 5:10 showing on the clock. Six points from Katelyn Carriere and two from Settingsgaard would propel the Cards to an 8-2 run, leading by nine points with the score 35-26 and 2:44 to go in the opening half. The lead would reach a game-high of 11 points (39-28) after a triple from Carriere and a foul shot from Emily Wendling with 1:24 left. The Bulldogs would get a good bucket at the buzzer of the first half, however, cutting the deficit to 39-30 heading into the halftime break.

The Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to a pair (41-39) with 6:20 showing in the third and would knot the score at 43-43 with 3:08 on the clock. Saginaw Valley responded with buckets from Wendling, Halee Nieman and Coury to gain the lead back and push it to six points at 49-43. Ferris then connected on a long range shot with 31 seconds left in the third, cutting the deficit to 49-46 after the third frame.

The fourth quarter was an exciting one, featuring seven ties and a trio of lead changes. With Ferris leading 58-55, Carriere made good on a huge three-point play to knot the score at 58-58 with 2:42 to play. The Bulldogs then went up by a pair three more times, each time being responded to by buckets by Wendling, Duffy and Wendling to force ties of 60-60, 62-62 and 64-64, respectively. Neither team was able to score after ther in regulation, as Ferris missed a late attempt and the game went into overtime.

The extra session saw Ferris get two free throws to take a lead at 66-64 with 3:30 showing on the clock. A Wendling jumper at the 2:42 marker would knot the score at 66-66, tying the game for the 10th time. A layup from Carriere would follow with just 41 seconds left, giving the home team the 68-66 lead. Ferris got a jumper with 32 seconds to play to knot the score at 68-68. It would come down to the final seconds once more, and SVSU's Carriere was able to draw a foul driving the lane. She would make good on two free throw attempts, giving the Cards a 70-68 lead. Ferris wasn't able to get a shot off with what little time it had left, sealing the fifth straight win for Saginaw Valley. 

Inside the Boxscore 

• Wendling had her third straight double-double for SV, notching a game-high 23 points while matching a career-high with 17 rebounds. She earned Meijer "Player of the Game" honors for her efforts, adding three assists, three steals and a block. The three steals matched a career-best as well. 
• Carriere added 18 points with seven assists, four boards and three steals.
• Settingsgaard scored a career-high 11 points in the victory. She added three assists and a pair of rebounds as well. 
• Ferris shot 43.8% (28-64) for the contest and SVSU was 36.1% (22-61) from the floor. The Bulldogs hit on 50% (4-8) of their attempts from three and the Cardinals were 5-of-13 (38.5%).
• Both teams had 40 rebounds in the matchup while Ferris posted a 38-28 edge in points in the paint. 
• The game featured 11 ties and four lead changes.
• This marks the first overtime game of the season for the Cardinals.
• SVSU was receiving votes in the latest WBCA Top 25 Coaches Poll.

From Head Coach Jamie Pewinski

"Today was probably one of the better wins we had this season. While we didn't play our best game, we were able to make some plays down the stretch to secure a victory. Our conference is too good to think you aren't going to have to grind or come from behind at some point, so we are excited to get the win. We will have to clean some things up tomorrow, but for tonight, we will enjoy the outcome and continue our process of becoming a better team." 

Up Next... 

Saginaw Valley improves to 13-3 overall, giving them the program's best start through 16 games since the 1986-87 team began the season 23-0 en route to a NAIA national quarterfinals appearance. The Cardinals travel to GVSU to play in a noon battle that will be aired on the American Sports Network. Links on where to follow the game live will be available on the SVSU women's basketball schedule page.      

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