UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball program hosted Hillsdale for their home opener Friday evening. The Cardinals (2-1) defeated the Chargers (2-2) with a final score of 52-47.

Meijer Player of the Game, Aleshia Jones led all scorers with 21 points and added 11 rebounds for a double-double along with five of the 10 SVSU steals. Megan McCalla followed with 18 points and eight rebounds. Lydia Meredith had three assists to lead the team and Lauren Sollom had the lone Cardinal block.

The teams traded leads to start the game until two free throws and a layup for McCalla put SVSU ahead 11-7 to end the first quarter. The Chargers hit a three to take a 16-13 lead. Jones made back-to-back free throws and back-to-back threes to put the Cardinals ahead 29-22. McCalla made another free throw to go up eight points at the half.

SVSU wouldn't trail the remainder of the game, but Hillsdale would make it close. The Chargers cut the lead to one to two points multiple times in the third and fourth quarters, but the Cardinals always had a response. An Emma Dziezgowski three followed by layups by Jones and Maggie Keinsley extended their lead to 39-33. In the fourth quarter, Jones and McCalla were the only Cardinals to score points from the floor. Saniaa Walker and Dziezgowski both added a pair of free throws in the final minute of the game to keep the two-possession lead.

Up Next: Saginaw Valley women's basketball heads back on the road. They travel to Pitt.-Johnstown on Monday. Tip-off is set for 4:00 PM EST from the Sports Center in Johnstown, Pa.