UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich . – The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball program hosted Ursuline Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals (4-1) claimed a 22-point victory over the Arrows (0-5) winning 81-59.
Meijer Player of the Game, Megan McCalla, led the Cardinals with a career high 27 points as she shot 10-18 from the floor. Aleshia Jones had 12 points as the only other double-digit scorer for SVSU. Ava Locklear led with five rebounds while Lydia Meredith posted a career high eight steals.
Ursuline started strong taking a lead that bloomed to 10 as the Arrows went up 18-8 late in the first half. That was the largest lead for Ursuline as the Cardinals cut it to three before the quarter break. SVSU took the lead in the second quarter with an 11-0 run to finish an 18-0 run extending to the end of the first quarter. After taking the lead, Saginaw Valley would never trail again.
A massive defensive quarter for SVSU outscoring the Arrows 17-7 was the first advantage for the Cardinals. A 6-3 run with some free throws from Maggie Keinsley along with a Lauren Sollom jumper left the Cardinals ahead 32-25 at halftime.
The Arrows cut the lead to two multiple times in the third quarter as it was tightly contested. Emma Dziezgowski sparked the Cardinals with her third three of the game which gave Dziezgowski 106 in her career which put her at 10th on the program list for career threes. Other career milestones occurred in the third as Lainey Yater made a free throw for her first career point.
SVSU closed out strong with a 28-14 fourth quarter. A 10-0 run with a McCalla layup, a Sollom jumper and three pointer, along with a Jones three put SVSU ahead by 18. The 20-point edge was taken when McCalla scored two layups and a free throw for a 5-0 run in 14 seconds to go ahead 74-54. A 7-5 difference for the Cardinals finished the game as SVSU has won three straight.
Up Next: Saginaw Valley women's basketball heads to Walsh on Tuesday. The Cardinals and Cavaliers tip off at 5:00 PM EST from Alumni Arena in North Canton, Ohio.
