Jan. 20, 2005

Box Score

Grand Valley State shot an outstanding 51.7% from the field, while holding Mercyhurst College to just 16.7% en route to a 73-28 GLIAC victory in Erie, Penn. Thursday night. The 28 points is the fewest point total allowed by Grand Valley in a GLIAC game since the 1974-75 season when GVSU defeated Lake Superior State, 97-21. GVSU improves to 13-4 overall and 7-1 in GLIAC action.

Mercyhurst led 8-6 early in the game, but GVSU went on to score the next 24 points to take a 30-8 lead with 4:50 left in the first half. Mercyhurst scored just five more points in the half, while GVSU added 12 to take a 42-13 lead after 20 minutes of action.

GVSU shot 51.6% in the first half, while forcing Mercyhurst to 21.7% from the field. The Lakers committed just one turnover in the first half, while scoring 15 points off of 16 Mercyhurst first half turnovers.

Grand Valley continued its hot shooting in the second half, connecting on 15-of-29 shots from the field (51.7%). Mercyhurst shot 12.0% from the field in the second half and made just 8-of-48 shots from the field on the night.

GVSU tallied just 10 turnovers, while forcing Mercyhurst to commit 27, leading to 27 Laker points. Grand Valley's bench outscored Mercyhurst 34-8 and GVSU added 46 points in the paint.

Junior forward Niki Reams led the Lakers with 12 points, four rebounds, and three steals, while freshman guard Crystal Zick added 11 points and three steals. Freshman center Rachael Willett posted 11 points and four rebounds and sophomore guard Erika Ryskamp added nine points. Junior center Jaida Bourke tallied eight points, while senior guard Janine Guastella recorded seven points, four rebounds, and four steals. Ten different Lakers scored for GVSU.

Grand Valley State will travel to Gannon on Saturday, Jan. 22 for another GLIAC contest at 1:00 p.m.