NORTH CANTON, Ohio - The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team squared-off against the Walsh University Cavaliers on Sunday (Jan. 4) afternoon in a matchup against the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) South Division opponent. The Cavaliers came away with an 82-65 victory in the contest at Walsh's Alumni Arena.
Sophomore Emily Wendling got the Lady Cards out to a quick lead in the first half after sinking a jumper just eight seconds into the contest to give SVSU the 2-0 advantage.
Saginaw Valley extended its lead out to 10-6 at the 17:04 mark after freshman Jessica Alexander made good on a shot. The four point lead would prove to be the largest lead of the game for the visitors.
The Cardinal lead held true until Walsh took a 15-14 edge with 14:35 showing on the clock in the first half.
After Abby Schlicher made a jump shot to make the score 31-25 at the 6:23 marker, the Cavs scored 12 points in a row to take an 18 point advantage (43-25) with 3:13 showing on the clock.
SVSU answered that with a 10-2 run to close the half, cutting the deficit to 10 points as the scoreboard showed 45-35 with the teams heading into the break.
Wendling reached double-digits in scoring with 12 in the opening 20 minutes of play, adding eight rebounds. Junior Alex Green added eight points.
The Lady Cardinals would trail by 15 (51-36) but seven straight points, capped by back-to-back buckets from junior Danielle Carriere, pulled SV to within eight at 51-43 with 16:12 remaining in the game.
After the Cavaliers extended their lead, a Green jumper with 9:07 left to play pulled SVSU to within eight points once more with the score 64-56.
Walsh would once more pull out to a larger lead and closed-out in the downstretch to claim a 17 point victory, 82-65.
Wendling led the charge for Saginaw Valley, netting 15 points and 15 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. The 15 boards tied a season-high and she was named the Meijer "Player of the Game" after the performance.
Senior Samantha Zirzow had 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the contest. Green had 10 points and three rebounds. Alexander, Carriere and senior Shelby Herrington all chipped-in with seven points in the game, with Alexander and Carriere adding three boards and three assists each as well.
The Lady Cards owned a 46-33 edge on the glass in the game and posted a 17-4 advantage in second chance points after posting a solid 20 offensive rebounds.
Saginaw Valley falls to 5-7 overall and 0-6 in GLIAC play after the defeat while the Cavs improve to 9-3 overall and an even 3-3 in league action.
SVSU returns to action on Thursday (Jan. 8) at home against the University of Findlay Oilers. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm in SVSU's O'Neill Arena. The Oilers claimed last year's matchup by a score of 66-56 in Findlay, Ohio.