Dec. 9, 2010

Box Score

Midland, Mich. - #9 Grand Valley State never trailed on Thursday night (Dec. 9) in Midland, Mich., as the Lakers continued their undefeated start to the year with a 68-54 victory at Northwood. GVSU had three players tally double-digits in scoring and the Lakers owned a big 46-30 edge in rebounding to win their seventh straight game overall and third straight GLIAC contest to start the 2010-11 season.

GVSU is now 7-0 on the year with a 3-0 record in the conference, while Northwood falls to 2-5 overall with an 0-3 mark in league play. The Laker defense gets some credit in this win, as Grand Valley State held Northwood to a 33.3 field goal percentage and forced 16 NU turnovers. Offensively, the Lakers shot 45.8 percent from the field and the 16-rebound discrepancy teamed with GVSU's 34-18 edge in points in the paint to claim the win.

Things looked good from the start of the game as sophomore center Alex Stelfox put in a pair of layups in the opening 40 seconds, both assisted by junior point guard Jasmine Padin. That would not be the last time Stelfox would score or Padin would dish. GVSU would take a 19-9 lead at the 11:10 mark on a layup from Jessica Trambley, which was soon followed by a three-pointer from freshman Tori Klewicki-McNutt, giving the Lakers a 22-9 advantage.

Grand Valley State would own a pair of 16-point cushions in the opening 20 minutes, but Northwood would stay within striking distance at 31-20 with 1:38 left in the half. Stelfox would split a pair of free throws and the Lakers would get back-to-back steals and layups from Brittany Taylor and Briauna Taylor to go into halftime with a 36-20 lead. GVSU shot 48.4 percent from the floor in the first half, while the Timberwolves were just 7-of-31 for a 22.6 percentage.

In the second half, Grand Valley State looked to put the game out of reach early. A three-pointer from sophomore Lauren Stodola gave the Lakers a 21-point lead (43-22), but after a Northwood bucket, Padin would score on an old-fashioned three-point play and Stodola would convert a pair of free throws. At this point, GVSU led 48-24 with over 16 minutes to play.

Northwood would hold the Lakers scoreless for more than five minutes, but only score seven points themselves during that stretch, getting back to within 17 points at 48-31 with 12:02 remaining. Senior Elizabeth Van Tiflin knocked down a pair of free throws and Padin scored on a jumper to break the scoreless streak and push the lead back out to 21 points (52-31) midway through the half. The Timberwolves would get as close as 13 points, but never get any closer, as GVSU had more than enough to hold off Northwood.

Stelfox led all players and was one point off of her career-high, as the center tallied 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the floor. She added five rebounds, two steals, an assist, and a block. Briauna Taylor joined her in double-digits with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Padin tallied an impressive double-double. The junior scored 11 points and dished out a career-high 10 assists (with just two turnovers) and four steals.

Van Tiflin may have only scored five points, but the senior tied her career-high with a game-high 11 rebounds, six coming on the offensive end. In 13 productive minutes on the floor, Trambley totaled eight points and three rebounds, making 3-of-4 shots and handing out an assist. Stodola added five points, five rebounds, and a pair of assists.

GVSU will step out of conference play for a battle with GLVC member Lewis on Saturday night (Dec. 11). The Lakers will meet up with the Flyers in Romeoville, Ill. in a 6:00 p.m. ET start on Saturday.