Jan. 29, 2009

Box Score

Houghton, Mich. - In a battle of top-20 teams and GLIAC North Division rivals, Grand Valley State lost for the first time since Dec. 1, dropping a 74-63 decision at Michigan Tech on Thursday night (Jan. 29). The #20 Lakers trailed at the half by just a bucket, but #10 Michigan Tech pulled away late in the game for the victory.

Grand Valley State falls to 15-3 with an 11-2 mark in GLIAC play, while Michigan Tech improves to 16-2 and continues its unblemished conference tally of 13-0. Both teams were on quite a roll entering the game, as the Lakers took a 12-game unbeaten streak into Houghton while the Huskies owned a seven-game undefeated stretch.

The Lakers found themselves down early to start the game. Michigan Tech, 8-1 at home this season, jumped out quickly and took a 22-8 advantage less than seven minutes into the game. GVSU started to mount its comeback, as freshman point guard Jasmine Padin drained a three-pointer to cut the lead in half at 22-11.

Fellow freshman Emma Veach followed a few minutes later with consecutive layups, the second of which was an old-fashioned three-point play, as she was fouled and made the ensuing free throw. Veach followed with a regular three-pointer to cut the lead to 27-19.

With less than three minutes remaining in the half, sophomore guard Elizabeth Van Tiflin nailed a trifecta and a jumper from Veach brought GVSU within five at 33-28. A triple from Padin with 41 seconds left closed out the 8-0 run in the final 2:54, resulting in a 20-8 run to end the half. MTU held a slim 33-31 lead at intermission.

In the opening minute of the second half, sophomore forward Kara Crawford's layup tied the game at 33-33 after the Lakers trailed by as many as 14 points in the first frame. Michigan Tech responded with five straight points, but GVSU answered and tied the game at 40-40 on a three-pointer from freshman guard Kelly Kretz.

A triple from senior forward Kim Wyngaard at the 12:33 mark put the Lakers ahead 43-40 for the first time all game. With the Lakers ahead 46-45 with just over 10 minutes left, Michigan Tech put together a game-changing run. The Huskies scored 10 straight points and extended the lead to 68-52, which was too much for GVSU.

The 11-point loss was tied for the largest defeat for GVSU this season. On Nov. 22, the Lakers fell to Drury, 73-62. Grand Valley State's loss to Ferris State on Dec. 1 was a 10-point defeat (74-64).

Veach led all scorers with 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting. She added seven rebounds, three assists, a pair of blocks, and did not record a turnover. Wyngaard added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, while Padin totaled 10 points, five boards, four assists, and four steals.

Grand Valley State turned the ball over a season-low 11 times and tripled the Huskies in steals (9-3), forcing 16 MTU miscues. The rebounding battle was tied at 36-36, but GVSU picked up 19 offensive boards. Michigan Tech shot 52.0 percent from the floor (26-of-50), while the Lakers shot 35.2 percent (25-of-71). Both teams made nine three-pointers.

GVSU continues the first half of its four-game road stretch with a 1:00 p.m. contest at Northern Michigan on Saturday (Jan. 31).