Dec. 4, 2010

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - The 14th-ranked Grand Valley State women's basketball team claimed an 84-72 victory over previously undefeated Tiffin University Saturday (Dec. 4) at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. GVSU improves to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in GLIAC action, while Tiffin falls to 5-1 and 1-1. GVSU will next be in action Thursday, Dec. 9 at Northwood.

The first half was tightly contested with three lead changes and three ties. Tiffin led the first five minutes, but a pair of free throws by freshman Dani Crandall at the 14:25 mark gave GVSU its first lead (11-10). The Lakers led by five (23-18) after a jumper from Briauna Taylor, but a 17-6 run by Tiffin put the Dragons up 35-29 following a three-pointer by Karli Mast. Grand Valley State finished the first half with an 11-5 run to tie the game at 40-40. Junior Jasmine Padin scored five points, Briauna Taylor four and sophomore center Alex Stelfox scored in the paint with eight seconds left to pull the Lakers even. Tiffin hit six three-pointers and 45.5 percent from the floor in the first half, while GVSU hit 51.7 percent from the floor and 8-of-11 from the charity stripe.

Tiffin scored four quick points to open the second half and led 44-40 with 18:27 left, but GVSU answered with an impressive 18-4 run of its own to forge into a 58-48 lead with 11:25 left in the game. Stelfox started the run with a layup and Briauna Taylor followed with jumper in the paint. Elizabeth Van Tiflin hit a three-pointer at the 17:09 mark to give GVSU the lead for good (47-45). Sophomore guard Lauren Stodola and Stelfox added back-to-back layups and Padin hit a pair of free throws to give GVSU a 53-47 lead. Sophomore center Jessica Trambley upped the Laker lead to 55-48 and Briauna Taylor hit a three-pointer after taking a pass from twin sister Brittany Taylor to give GVSU a 58-48 lead.

Grand Valley State built a 66-54 lead after a three-pointer from Taylor at the 7:36 mark, but Tiffin went on an 11-0 run to pull within three (66-63) with 5:41 left in the game. Crandall completed a three-point play to increase the Laker lead to 69-63 and Padin stole an inbounds pass that she converted into a layup to give the Lakers a 71-63 lead. Tiffin was never abel to get any closer than five the rest of the way as GVSU converted eight free throws and a three-pointer from Crandall in the final 2:43.

GVSU shot 52.7 percent from the floor, hit 7-of-18 three-pointers and 19-of-25 free throws. The Lakers scored 36 points in the paint, held a 23-10 advantage in second chance points and pulled down 42 rebounds. Briauna Taylor led GVSU with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Padin added 20 points, hit all eight of her free throws and dished out four assists. Stelfox scored 18 points, dished out four assists and pulled down five rebounds for the Lakers. Van Tiflin pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds and scored six points, while Crandall added 12 points off the bench.