Jan. 12, 2011

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - In what turned out to be its lowest scoring output of the season, #13 Grand Valley State was knocked off at home on Wednesday night (Jan. 12) in a 63-48 loss to visiting Northwood. The Timberwolves held GVSU to just 33.3 percent shooting, 3-of-22 from three-point range, and forced the Lakers into a season-high 21 turnovers, as Grand Valley State lost its second straight home game.

After falling in overtime to Lake Superior State on Saturday afternoon, GVSU looked to rebound against Northwood (6-7 overall, 2-5 GLIAC). However, the Timberwolves had other ideas and shocked Grand Valley State in the Lakers' worst loss this season. GVSU falls to 11-3 on the season and 5-3 in conference play, dropping its second consecutive home game after starting the year with a 6-0 record at Fieldhouse Arena.

Northwood led 23-22 at halftime, but scored the first 10 points of the second half to open up a double-digit lead that it would not relinquish. Grand Valley State did win the rebounding battle, 40-36, but one of the telling stats in the night was this figure: the Lakers recorded 17 offensive rebounds (to NU's 13), but scored just six second chance points, not taking advantage of their extra opportunities. GVSU's field goal percentage (33.3), free throw percentage (50.0), and turnovers (21) were all season-worsts in those respective categories.

Things actually got off to a good start for the Lakers, as sophomore Alex Stelfox scored on a pair of buckets in the opening 40 seconds and led 7-4 after an old-fashioned three-point play from freshman Dani Crandall. Northwood then rattled off a 14-5 run over the next seven minutes to take an 18-12 advantage. Minutes later, sophomore Briauna Taylor drained a pair of free throws and Stelfox scored on a layup and GVSU was back to tied at 22-22. The Timberwolves took a 23-22 lead into halftime.

When Northwood came back out in the second half, it was a completely different game, as the Timberwolves tallied 12 straight points out of the gates, including a pair of three-pointers. At this point, NU led 35-22 with 17:08 remaining. Grand Valley State got back into the ballgame on a layup from junior Jasmine Padin, a steal and an assist from Padin to senior Elizabeth Van Tiflin, and another Padin steal and a layup from Crandall. That sequence took just over a minute and brought the Lakers back to within 41-36 and GVSU looked to be back in the game.

The Timberwolves, however, continued to weather the storm and hold off the Lakers. GVSU got to within four points at 49-45 after a three-pointer from Padin, but Northwood then ran off a 14-1 run that finished off the Lakers, who scored just one point in the final four-plus minutes of the game. Late in the game, Northwood's Pam Wilson (the leading scorer in the GLIAC) took over and scored 18 of her game-high 26 points in the final 20 minutes.

Stelfox led the Lakers with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting in 27 minutes of work. She was the lone GVSU player in double-digits. Padin totaled seven points, six assists, and four steals, while Crandall put together seven points and five rebounds in 28 productive minutes off the bench. Taylor led all players with 10 rebounds, while sophomore Lauren Stodola dished out five assists without a turnover.

GVSU heads on the road for a 3:00 p.m. game at Hillsdale on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 15), as the Lakers will take on the Chargers in Jesse Philips Arena.