ASHLAND, Ohio -- The Cardinal Women's Basketball team remained on the road for league play on Thursday, taking on its second top-10 opponent in a week in the No. 6-ranked Ashland University Eagles. The Eagles proved to be too much in the contest, leading wire-to-wire and posting an 83-60 victory over the Cardinals.

Ashland got off to a quick start and posted a 20-11 lead after the opening 10 minutes of action. The Eagles extended that lead in the second quarter, outscoring SVSU 20-14 to carry a 15-point edge into halftime, 40-25. 

Aaliah Hill had six points and five rebounds in the first 20 minutes of play while Mariah Cook added five points. SVSU hit on 5-of-12 shots from three-point range while AU was 5-of-13. The Eagles had a 53.6% percentage overall from the floor in the first and the Cardinals hit at just a 28.6% mark.

The third quarter saw the home squad post a 24-16 advantage, taking a 64-41 lead into the fourth and final frame. The Eagles maintained that edge throughout, closing-out the contest with a 23-points victory at 83-20.  

Inside the Boxscore

• Hill finished with team-highs of 14 points and nine rebounds in her 27 minutes of action and first start in an SVSU uniform. She was named the Meijer "Player of the Game" for the Cardinals. 
• Cook was 3-of-3 from the floor and 2-of-2 from beyond the arc for eight points. She added two assists and a rebound as well.
• Maddie Barrie added nine points with five boards and a steal.
• Kyndall Spires netted a career-high six points and had five rebounds for the Cards.
• AU shot 47.1% from the floor while SVSU was 35.3%
• The Eagles posted a 46-37 edge on the glass and 46-24 lead in points in the paint.
• SVSU's bench outscored Ashland's by a 27-8 margin.

Up Next...

Saginaw Valley continues on and plays at Wayne State University on Saturday (Jan. 19). Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. at WSU's Matthaei Center. The Warriors are coming off a 69-60 win over Northwood on Thursday. 

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