Dec. 29, 2007

Final Stats

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State shot 85.7 percent (24-28) from the free throw line in a 66-55 win over No. 11 Northern Kentucky. The Lakers made 20 of their 22 attempts in the second half and were led by Kim Wyngaard, who scored a career-high 20 points. Erin Cyplik chipped in with a double-double, notching 13 points and 14 rebounds. GVSU is now 8-4 on the season and will travel to the Upper Peninsula to take on Northern Michigan on Jan. 3.

While the Lakers prospered at the charity stripe, the Norse struggled, shooting just 30.8 percent (4-13). They were led by Cassie Brannen and Angela Healy, who both scored 11 points. Healy, the reigning GLVC player of the week, also grabbed eight rebounds.

Things started off slowly for Grand Valley, who did not score in the first 6:01 of the game and did not record a made field goal until the 12:54 mark. During that time, the Norse jumped out to a 10-0 lead. That lead ballooned to 13 points, 20-7, after a layup by Nicole Chiodi with 9:19 remaining in the first half.

Taylor Silas drained a three and Crystal Zick, who scored 11 points off the bench, converted on a layup to make the score 20-12 with just more than eight minutes left in the half. The teams traded baskets until a jumper by Wyngaard with 2:16 left cut the deficit to five, 25-20. A NKU three-pointer made the score 30-22 at the break.

The second half started with two free throws by Lauren Buresh and a three-pointer by Elizabeth Van Tiflin, making the margin 30-27. The Norse reeled off six straight points to reestablish a nine-point lead. With just more than 10 minutes left in the game, Silas made it a one-point contest with a three-pointer. Cyplik converted on a three-point play to give GVSU its first lead of the game at 43-41.

Healy brought the Norse back, tying the game with a jumper, but two free throws from Wyngaard at the 6:39 mark gave the Lakers a lead that they did not relinquish. Grand Valley made the lead 11 when Cyplik hit two free throws with 1:11 left in the game and 11 points ended up being the final margin of victory.