Nov. 12, 2010

Box Score

Urbana, Ohio - The 2010-11 season opener for #23 Grand Valley State on Friday night (Nov. 12) was not easy, but the Lakers managed to rally from a 14-point second-half deficit to top Urbana by a 73-67 score. GVSU had three players tally double-figures in scoring, led by sophomore center Alex Stelfox, who recorded career-highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds to help push the Lakers past the Blue Knights.

In the season opener for both teams, Urbana (0-1) looked as if it would continue on last season's late success by putting together a strong first half. The Blue Knights started off last year with an 0-5 record, but won 17 of their last 22 games. However, Grand Valley State (1-0) shot the ball better and played much better defense in the second half of Friday night's opener to earn a solid road victory over Urbana.

The Blue Knights opened the game with an early 7-2 run before the Lakers got back within a bucket at 9-7 on a three-pointer from junior point guard Jasmine Padin. A layup from Stelfox (assisted by Padin) made the score 11-9 in Urbana's favor, but the two-point deficit is as close as the Lakers would get for nearly 10 minutes of play. UU would lead by as many as seven points in the opening half, but every time GVSU made a run, the Lakers could only get within two points.

Another layup from Stelfox at the 2:32 mark made the score 29-27 before the Blue Knights scored the final five points of the half and took a 34-27 lead into the intermission. Perhaps some early signs of rust showed for the Lakers, as GVSU shot just 33.3 percent (10-30) from the field and made only 1-of-7 three-point attempts. It didn't help that Urbana shot extremely well in the half, connecting on 54.2 percent (13-24) of its attempts. Both teams turned the ball over frequently in the opening 20 minutes, with GVSU committing nine turnovers, while Urbana made 12 miscues.

Grand Valley State stayed within striking distance thanks to Stelfox's 14 first-half points. The reigning GLIAC Freshman of the Year, Stelfox shot 6-of-12 from the field in the first frame, while Padin added five points and three assists.

Urbana picked up right where it left off in the second half, scoring the first six points and completing a 11-0 run that looked to open up the game. The Blue Knights would lead by as many as 14 points (43-29) at the 16:38 mark before GVSU used a big run of its own to cut down the deficit.

Freshman guard Dani Crandall sunk a pair of free throws, followed by two freebies from sophomore Brittany Taylor, making the score 43-33. After an Urbana trifecta put the lead back at 13 points, GVSU went on a 9-0 spurt to close the gap to 46-42 with nearly 13 minutes left to play. Taylor connected on a layup, which was followed by a fast break layup from sophomore guard Lauren Stodola. Another fast break layup from Stodola was scored just 28 seconds later and she kept the hot streak going less than a minute later by draining a three-pointer, closing the Blue Knight advantage to just four points.

Urbana absorbed the Laker run and fought back to lead by eight points on a few occasions. GVSU would get the lead down to one point on a pair of free throws by Crandall and finally tie up the ballgame at 57-57 on a layup from sophomore Briauna Taylor. Padin, the team's leader in steals last season with 51 thefts, picked up a big steal and converted that to a fast break bucket, giving the Lakers their first lead of the game at 59-57 with 5:44 to play.

Although Urbana tied the score on its next possession, Grand Valley State regained the advantage with six straight points from Crandall on a layup and four free throws to push out to a 67-61 lead with 2:17 remaining. The Blue Knights would get to within 67-64 with 1:35 left, but Padin would score the team's final six points on a long jumper and four free throws in the final 32 seconds to close out the win.

GVSU would shoot 45.2 percent (14-31) in the second half for an overall percentage of 39.3. The Lakers had a strong advantage at the free throw line, converting 22-of-25 attempts, while Urbana missed eight free throws in the game (seven in the second half). Grand Valley State was outrebounded 40-33, but the Lakers turned the ball over just 11 times, compared to 20 miscues for Urbana.

Stelfox had 21 double-digit scoring games last year and picked up where she left off by totaling the second double-double of her career. The 22 points and 11 rebounds were both one point and rebound more than her previous career-high, as she shot 9-of-16 from the field and added three steals in 37 minutes.

Padin totaled 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists, as she knocked down all six free throw attempts. Crandall was just 2-of-4 from the field, but did her damage at the charity stripe, making 10-of-12 attempts for 14 points. She added three rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes of work.

Stodola had a solid all-around game with seven points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals, while both Taylor girls notched six points apiece. Senior Elizabeth Van Tiflin totaled eight rebounds, including five offensive boards.

The Lakers return home and have more than a week's rest until their home opener. GVSU will take on Saint Joseph's on Nov. 20 at 1:00 p.m. in Fieldhouse Arena.