Jan. 31, 2009

Box Score

Marquette, Mich. - Grand Valley State dropped its second consecutive game, falling 81-68 at Northern Michigan on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 31). The Wildcats knocked down 18-of-38 three-pointers, accounting for two-thirds of the team's points, as the #20 Lakers lost for just the fourth time this season.

It is just the second time this season that GVSU has lost back-to-back games, pushing the team's record to 15-4 overall, 11-3 in GLIAC play. The Lakers lost a hard-fought game at Michigan Tech on Thursday night, 74-63. Northern Michigan improves to 11-8 with a 6-8 league record.

The story of the game was NMU's prolific shooting from beyond the arc. However, despite the downtown dominance of the Wildcats, Grand Valley State led in the early going, 17-8, capping an 8-0 run with consecutive layups from freshman guard Emma Veach and senior forward Kim Wyngaard.

Northern Michigan answered with a 17-4 spurt that included five three-pointers and gave the home team a 25-21 advantage. The Lakers tied the game at 28-28 with another Wyngaard layup and a three-pointer from freshman guard Rachel Woodruff put GVSU ahead, 31-28. NMU responded with another trifecta and closed the half with a 35-33 edge.

In the opening frame, the Wildcats drained 7-of-19 triple tries. Grand Valley State stood its ground by shooting 52.0 percent (13-of-25) from the field and leading in points in the paint, 14-2.

The Lakers took an early lead in the second half off of a three-pointer from freshman point guard Jasmine Padin. A pair of free throws from sophomore Kara Crawford gave GVSU its last lead of the game at 39-37 with 17:54 remaining. Northern Michigan responded with another 17-4 stretch, which again included five triples, and the Wildcats were on top, 54-43.

Grand Valley State fought back, scoring the next nine points, capped by a pair of free throws from sophomore Elizabeth Van Tiflin to make the score 54-52 with 10:21 left in the game. NMU once again answered the Lakers' run by draining four more trifectas in a 14-4 stretch that put the Wildcats ahead by a dozen points. GVSU would get no closer than eight points the remainder of the game.

All in all, Northern Michigan shot 18-of-38 from long range (47.4 percent), including a startling 57.9 percent (11-of-19) in the second half. 18 of the Wildcats' 27 field goals were from beyond the arc, as NMU shot 47.4 percent from the field, as well. Kelsey Deacon scored a game-high 26 points by shooting 5-of-9 from long distance and Christa Erickson came off the bench to add 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from outside.

The Lakers connected for a 44.2 percent clip (23-of-52), but knocked down just 6-of-22 triple attempts (27.3 percent). GVSU shot 16-of-18 at the free throw line for an 88.9 percent mark and outscored the Wildcats in the paint, 26-8.

Three players scored in double-figures for Grand Valley State. Crawford led the way with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Veach added 12 points and four steals, while Wyngaard missed a double-double by one rebound, tallying 10 points and nine boards.

GVSU falls to 5-3 on the road and it is the first time all season the Lakers have lost consecutive road games. The four-game road stretch continues next Thursday night (Feb. 5) at Findlay in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.