Dec. 13, 2008

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Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State knocked off an undefeated opponent for the second straight game, topping Findlay, 85-74, on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 13). The Lakers survived 15 three-pointers from the Oilers by getting a game-high 24 points from freshman point guard Jasmine Padin and 20 points from senior forward Kim Wyngaard.

With the win, GVSU improves to 6-2 overall with a 3-1 GLIAC mark. After losing their conference opener to Ferris State on Dec. 1, the Lakers have rattled off three consecutive victories - all in league play. Findlay falls to 5-1 overall, 2-1 in the conference. Last Saturday (Dec. 6), Grand Valley State upended previously unbeaten Ashland, 72-63.

The Lakers got out of the gates quickly, jumping to a 21-5 lead at the 13:09 mark of the first half. Padin had nine of GVSU's first 21 points in the early run. Findlay battled back, using a 10-2 run to cut the Laker lead to 23-15 with 8:41 remaining. Grand Valley State answered with a 12-2 run of its own, capped off by a three-pointer from Wyngaard, assisted by freshman Emma Veach.

With a 40-25 lead approaching halftime, junior forward Lauren Buresh drained a triple and added a layup with 57 seconds left. Padin closed out her strong first half with a layup right before the halftime buzzer. Padin recorded 14 points, six assists, and four rebounds in 15 minutes of first-half action.

GVSU stifled the Findlay offense in the opening 20 minutes, forcing the Oilers into 31.0 percent shooting (9-of-29) and 10 turnovers. The Lakers shot 55.9 percent (19-of-34), including six three-pointers in the opening stanza. Heading into the game, GVSU was 5-1 when going into halftime with the lead.

In the second half, the two teams traded buckets for most of the second 20 minutes. Findlay only stayed in the game thanks to its superb shooting from downtown. The Oilers, who shot just 4-of-11 (36.4 percent) from long range in the opening half, knocked down 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) triple tries in the second stanza.

The Lakers maintained a double-digit lead the entire second half before a Findlay three-pointer with 29 seconds left cut GVSU's lead to 83-74. Padin closed out the game with a pair of free throws for the final tally, as Grand Valley State notched a season-high 85 points.

It is the third straight game that Padin has scored her career-high in points. Against Tiffin on Dec. 4, the freshman dropped in 15 points and followed that with 18 at Ashland just two days later. She finished the game with career-highs in three categories: points (24), assists (eight), and rebounds (four).

Grand Valley State shot a season-best 51.6 percent from the floor and made 15 of its 21 free-throw attempts, for a 71.4 percentage. The Lakers recorded 11 steals, as they forced 18 Oiler turnovers, and won the rebounding battle, 43-27.

With Findlay totaling 15 three-pointers, GVSU controlled the paint by outscoring the Oilers, 42-14, inside the painted area. The Lakers also scored 23 points off of turnovers, compared to 15 for the Oilers.

Wyngaard added another strong game, tying her career-high with 20 points and added nine rebounds. She shot 8-of-8 at the free throw line and added three steals. Veach recorded double-figures in scoring for the sixth time this year by scoring 13 points and adding four assists and four rebounds. Sophomore forward Kara Crawford tallied 10 points and six rebounds for the Lakers. Buresh notched nine points, four boards, and three steals in 15 productive minutes on the floor.

The Lakers could have the opportunity to knock off a third straight undefeated opponent, as they take on Hillsdale next Saturday (Dec. 20) at Fieldhouse Arena. HC will host Findlay on Thursday night (Dec. 18) and with a win in that game, the Chargers would come to Allendale with a 9-0 overall record.