Nov. 23, 2010

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Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State had no problem with visiting Rochester on Tuesday night (Nov. 23), as the #16 Lakers cruised past the Warriors by a 84-47 score in a non-conference game. GVSU shot the ball tremendously on Tuesday, as the Lakers connected at a 53.2 percent mark from the field and knocked down 10-of-16 three-point attempts. Three GVSU players scored in double-digits to lead the Lakers to their third straight win to open the season.

It was all Grand Valley State (3-0) in the early minutes of the game, as the Lakers scored the first 11 points and raced out to an 18-2 advantage by the 13-minute mark. Sophomore Briauna Taylor scored the first four points on a layup and jumper, followed by a layup from sophomore Alex Stelfox, and a three-pointer from junior Jasmine Padin. Once Taylor's jumper hit the bottom of the net with 16:26 remaining, the Lakers were ahead by an 11-0 score.

A Padin layup, a jumper from Stelfox, and an old-fashioned three-point play from freshman Dani Crandall extended the lead out to 18-2 less than seven minutes into the contest. Rochester stayed within striking distance and managed to get the deficit down to 10 points before the Lakers pushed out to a 38-20 advantage going into halftime. A jumper from sophomore Brittany Taylor and a three-pointer from freshman Tori Klewicki-McNutt gave GVSU the final five points of the half and a comfortable 18-point cushion at the intermission.

In the opening 20 minutes, GVSU owned 18-6 edges in both points in the paint and bench points, as Crandall tallied 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the first half. The Lakers shot 47.1 percent from the field and made 4-of-7 three-point attempts. In forcing 14 Warrior turnovers, GVSU held a 17-6 advantage in points off turnovers in the first half. The Lakers also held Rochester to just 30.0 percent shooting and only 3-of-14 from three-point range.

The second half was more of the same, as Rochester stayed close enough and trailed 51-36 with 13:02 left in the game. But GVSU responded by scoring the next 11 points in less than three minutes and building a 62-36 cushion. Stelfox scored consecutively on a jumper and a layup, Briauna Taylor knocked down a jumper, and Stelfox drained a pair of free throws. When Crandall's three-pointer torched the net, the Lakers were ahead by 26 points and well on their way to victory number three on the season.

Grand Valley State shot 53.2 percent from the field during the game and made 10-of-16 three-point attempts, while holding Rochester (in its fourth game in five nights) to 37.2 percent shooting and just 6-of-20 from downtown. The Lakers owned a huge 39-11 edge in bench points, scored all nine of the game's fast break points, and scored 30 points on 25 Rochester turnovers.

Stelfox totaled game-high scoring honors with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting, while Briauna Taylor shot 8-of-10 from the field for 18 points, while adding three boards, two assists, and a pair of steals. Crandall scored in double-figures for the third straight game of her young career, notching 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting (3-of-3 from three-point range) and adding four steals and three assists.

Klewicki-McNutt scored nine points on three three-pointers, while adding five rebounds and a pair of assists. Brittany Taylor scored six points and tied with senior Elizabeth Van Tiflin with a team-high six rebounds. Padin dished out five assists and recorded four steals, giving her 11 steals in the past two games.

The Lakers return to the floor on Saturday (Nov. 27) for a big regional game against visiting Wisconsin-Parkside. GVSU and the Rangers will battle at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in Fieldhouse Arena.