UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball program hosted Purdue Northwest Thursday evening for their first home game of 2025. The Cardinals (8-5, 2-3 GLIAC) defeated the Pride (3-10, 0-5 GLIAC) with a final score of 80-56.
Meijer Player of the Game, Ava Locklear, recorded her first double-double putting up 21 points and 10 rebounds. Megan McCalla led all scorers with 26 points as the pair both shot 9-11 from the floor. It was one of the best team games for SVSU posting their most assists with 21, second most rebounds with 43, and tied for second most steals with 15 and blocks with five.
Locklear and McCalla got things started with a 9-3 run as McCalla had two layups and Locklear a layup and three pointer. Saginaw Valley extended their lead with a 9-0 run to go ahead 22-7 with Beckham Hockley capping the run with a three. Another SVSU scoring stretch with a 7-0 run put the Cardinals ahead 31-13 after the first. The Pride won the second quarter 17-14 but that was the only quarter they won, cutting the lead to 15 as Saginaw Valley was ahead 45-30 at halftime.
A 12-2 run for SVSU in the third pushed the lead to 22 as Locklear put up five points in the run. McCalla scored five straight in the fourth to put SVSU ahead 68-48 before a scoring drought for both teams took up most of the final frame. Mari Bink and Elizabeth Stuart both hit threes late to help push the lead to 25 before Locklear hit the final shot of the game to make it 80-56.
Head coach Jenny Pruett had this to say about Locklear and McCalla after the win,
"I'm proud of the way they've been working lately. They put in a lot of work and I'm proud to see it's showing on the court. We were pressing the whole game, and they weren't slowing down, and I love that about them."
Up Next: Saginaw Valley hosts Wisconsin-Parkside Saturday afternoon and look to make it a three-game winning streak. It's Heroes Day and Hometown Day on Saturday. First responders can get free entry by showing a valid work ID and residents of Detroit, Romulus, and Chelsea can get buy one get one free tickets online with the code svsuhometown111. Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM EST from James E. O'Neill Arena.
