BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team suffered an 81-57 loss to Ferris State University today (Feb. 4). The Cardinals fall to 5-16 overall on the season and 3-11 in the GLIAC, while the Bulldogs improve to 15-4 overall and 12-1 atop the GLIAC North standings.

Saginaw Valley came within four points of the Bulldogs on a free throw by junior Grace Herzog (Linden, Mich. / Powers Catholic HS) with 13:19 left in the first half. Herzog finished the game with four points and a blocked shot. Herzog, who is leading the nation in blocked shots, is now within four blocks of her own school record (82).

Sophomore Kristen Greene (Brown City, Mich.) forced the Bulldogs to turn the ball over and would convert on a jump shot with 44 seconds left in the half, as the Cardinals would trail 33-26 going into the locker room.

Ferris State started the second half on a run before Meijer "Player of the Game" Samantha Zirzow (Goodrich, Mich.) hit a jump shot with 16:52 remaining in the game to make the score 45-28. Zirzow finished the afternoon with a career-high 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor.

The Cardinals would close out the game on a 7-2 run, but it would not be enough as Ferris State went on to an 81-57 victory.

Saginaw Valley senior Morgan Hughes (Pinckney, Mich.) also recorded a career-high 14 points and five rebounds.

SVSU will return to action on Wednesday (Feb. 8) when they host Northwood University. Game time is scheduled for 6:00 PM.