The Basics 

Score: Saginaw Valley 66, Wayne State 55
Records: SVSU (16-4, 12-2 GLIAC) | WSU (7-14, 4-10 GLIAC) 
Location: James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena - University Center, Mich. 

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The SVSU women's basketball team kept to its winning ways on Monday (Jan. 30), posting a 66-55 home victory over the Wayne State University Warriors in O'Neill Arena. The Cardinals got a double-double from Emily Wendling and great offensive output from Katelyn to help secure the win.

The home squad jumped out to an early seven point lead (9-2) after a Hannah Settingsgaard layup and would lead by as many as nine points wiht 3:39 left in the first quarter after Abby Duffy hit a jumper to make the score 15-6. Wayne State cut the lead to 15-10 wiht 2:18 left, but a Grace Whelan jumper put the lead back at seven points with 2:01 showing to make the score 17-10. That is where it would remain as the first quarter buzzer sounded.

The Warriors would rebound in the second quarter to post a 16-9 edge, knotting the score at 26-26 heading into the half. SVSU didn't record a field goal in the quarter, getting all nine points from the free throw line. Wendling was 4-of-4, Duffy 2-of-2 and Anna Hall 3-of-4 from the charity stripe in the second.

Saginaw Valley worked its way out to a 34-26 lead to begin the third quarter, using a layup and triple from Carriere, two foul shots from Settingsgaard and a free throw from Wendling to hold the eight point edge at the 5:58 marker. The game was tied at 38-38 with 2:56 showing in the quarter after the first of two Carriere free throws. She would make the second and add a layup with 2:26 on the clock to make the lead three points (41-38). Hall would then make good on a layup attempt late in the third to give SV a 43-38 advantage heading into the final quarter.

That's where SV would post its highest offensive output of the night, going for 23 points while holding the Warriors to 17. The Cardinals held a double-digit lead at 56-45 with 5:36 to play after Wendling connected on a pair of freebies. The lead grew to as many as 17 points at 64-47 after a three-point play from Wendling at the 3:24 marker. The Cards would hold onto a double-digit lead from there, eventually closing-out for the 11-point victory over their GLIAC North opponents, 66-55.

Inside the Boxscore 

• Wendling led the way for SVSU while picking up Meijer "Player of the Game" honors. She notched her second straight double-double, going for a game-high 23 points and game-high 12 rebounds. She added two steals, a block and assist in the win. 
• Carriere added 19 points and two boards in the contest.
• Hall posted nine points, four steals and three rebounds while Settingsgaard had six points, four boards and a pair of assists.
• Saginaw Valley was stellar from the free throw line once again. The Cardinals, who ranked third in the nation with an 81.1% free throw percentage heading into Monday night's game, went 33-of-38 from the line against Wayne State to help secure the win. 
• Both teams struggled from the floor in the contest, with SVSU out-shooting the Warriors 32.6% (15-46) to 28.1% (18-64).
• Wayne State out-rebounded the Cardinals by a 42-37 margin and held a slim 26-22 edge in points in the paint. 
• The Warrior bench outscored the Cardinals 22-6 as well. 
• The win over the Warriors, coupled with a Michigan Tech loss at Northern Michigan, leaves the Cardinals with a two game lead in the GLIAC North Division standings with their 12-2 league mark. They sit at 16-4 overall and four wins shy of their second straight 20-win season.

From Head Coach Jamie Pewinski

Up Next...

The Cards travel to Ferris State University on Thursday (Feb. 2) for a matchup with the Bulldogs. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. in Big Rapids at Wink Arena. The teams met earlier this year at SVSU, with the Cardinals coming away with a 70-68 overtime victory on January 19. The Bulldogs are coming off an 85-38 road loss at Grand Valley State University on Monday night. 

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