Nov. 21, 2009

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State dominated Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday night (Nov. 21) in Fieldhouse Arena, as the Lakers won their first game of the year with a 81-36 defeat of the Panthers. GVSU shot 60.3 percent from the field, owned a 46-18 advantage in points in the paint, and had four players score in double figures in the victory.

The Lakers were coming off of a tough overtime loss in the season opener to visiting Drury on Monday night (Nov. 16), but had no problems with Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday. GVSU is now 1-1 on the year, while KWC also owns a 1-1 record.

Scoring the first eight points of the game, Grand Valley State received three-pointers from sophomore guards Jasmine Padin and Emma Veach and Veach's ensuing layup put the home team on top, 8-0. Back-to-back layups from freshman twin sisters, Brittany Taylor and Briauna Taylor made the score 27-7 midway through the first half. Veach closed out the first-half scoring with five straight points in a 32-second span to make the score 45-20 at intermission.

GVSU could not miss in the first half, as the Lakers shot 19-of-26 (73.1 percent) from the floor, making 5-of-9 three-point attempts. Grand Valley State forced 15 Panther turnovers in the opening half and took a 19-4 advantage in points off turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

In the second half, the Lakers shot just as well, quickly pushing the lead to 40 points as Brittany Taylor made a layup at the 10:41 mark, making the score 63-23 in GVSU's favor. A free throw from Briauna Taylor with 5:43 remaining put the Lakers ahead 75-29, their biggest lead of the night, and Grand Valley State would close the scoring with the 45-point victory.

Brittany Taylor led all players with 17 points, as she shot 8-of-10 from the floor and made her first seven shots. She added a game-high seven rebounds and three steals in just 15 minutes on the court. Her sister Briauna Taylor added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while notching four steals and three rebounds.

Veach shot 5-of-6 from the field and made both three-point attempts for 13 points, while freshman center Alex Stelfox connected on 5-of-8 field goal attempts for 10 points, five rebounds, three blocks, and three assists. Padin and junior Elizabeth Van Tiflin each scored eight points apiece, each knocking down a pair of three-pointers.

Grand Valley State ended up shooting 60.3 percent from the floor and made 8-of-19 three-pointers for a 42.1 percent clip. The Lakers won the rebounding battle, 34-32, and outscored the Kentucky Wesleyan bench, 38-15. GVSU forced 27 Panther turnovers and scored 35 points off those miscues. A dozen Lakers saw at least 10 minutes of game action.

GVSU heads on the road for its first away game of the season on Tuesday (Nov. 24), as the Lakers face Saint Joseph's (Ind.) at 6:30 p.m.