Feb. 7, 2009

Box Score

Hillsdale, Mich. - With less than 10 minutes remaining in Saturday's (Feb. 7) contest at Hillsdale, the Lakers trailed by just a point. However, the #7 Chargers used strong shooting down the stretch to defeat Grand Valley State, 75-66. GVSU falls to 16-5 overall with a 12-4 GLIAC mark, while Hillsdale improves to 19-2 with a 14-2 league record.

The first meeting between these teams - on Dec. 20 in Allendale - was a classic battle, with the Lakers ending up on the winning side, 71-69, for their third straight victory over an undefeated opponent. GVSU was able to secure the win in the game despite 27 points and 21 rebounds from Hillsdale's senior All-American Katie Cezat. Somehow, Cezat was better in the sequel between the two teams on Saturday afternoon.

Cezat led all players with game-highs of 38 points and 23 rebounds, playing all 40 minutes. Grand Valley State's defense held the other six Chargers to just 37 points, but could not pull off the road upset.

GVSU took its first lead of the game on back-to-back jumpers from freshman guards Emma Veach and Jasmine Padin, leading 11-8 less than six minutes into the game. Hillsdale quickly regained the lead, but the Lakers tied the game at 18-18 on a layup from sophomore forward Kara Crawford with 5:25 left.

Exactly two minutes later, a jumper from senior forward Kim Wyngaard gave Grand Valley State its last lead of the game, at 22-21. Padin added a layup at the first-half buzzer to cut the HC lead to 29-26 heading into intermission.

The Laker defense held Hillsdale to just 33.3 percent shooting (9-of-27) in the first half, but the Chargers made 11-of-12 free throw attempts (91.7 percent). GVSU connected on 39.3 percent of its shots (11-of-28) in the opening half.

Grand Valley State was within striking distance for nearly the entire second half. Four minutes into the half, freshman guard Kelly Kretz knocked down a three-pointer to cut the Charger lead to 40-38. Eight straight points from Cezat kept Hillsdale on top, 46-40, but the Lakers answered with a 7-2 run and a Wyngaard layup to make the score, 48-47.

Hillsdale would begin to pull away from that point, not allowing GVSU to get any closer. From the 9:43 mark when the Lakers trailed by a point, Cezat scored 15 points en route to a 27-point, 12-rebound second half of play. Hillsdale shot 59.3 percent (16-of-27) in the final frame to end with a 46.3 percent clip for the game.

For the game, Grand Valley State shot the ball well, knocking down 24-of-59 shots for a 40.7 mark and making eight three-pointers. Normally lights out at the free throw line, the Lakers shot just 55.6 percent (10-of-18) at the stripe, their lowest total of the season.

Veach led the Lakers with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, as she made all three triple tries. She added five rebounds in 28 minutes of play. Off the bench, junior forward Lauren Buresh, who made the game-winning shot in a 71-70 win at Findlay on Thursday night, scored 11 points in 21 minutes.

Padin notched 10 points and six assists, while sophomore guard Elizabeth Van Tiflin retrieved a team-high eight rebounds. The Chargers held a 38-33 advantage in rebounding, while both teams recorded just 11 turnovers. Hillsdale led in points in the paint (32-24), while the Lakers held the edge in bench points (18-15).

Grand Valley State returns home after the four-game road trip to play four straight conference games in GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The Lakers take on Northern Michigan next Thursday (Feb. 12) at 6:00 p.m.