Jan. 15, 2011

Box Score

Hillsdale, Mich. - In a pivotal road game for Grand Valley State after dropping consecutive home games, the #13 Lakers rebounded very nicely and bounced back from a nine-point halftime deficit to earn a big 67-65 win over Hillsdale on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 15). Five different Lakers (including four sophomores) scored in double figures for GVSU, which shot 60.0 percent from the field in the second half and converted 13-of-16 free throws in outscoring Hillsdale by a 47-36 mark in the final 20 minutes.

While Grand Valley State improves to an impressive 6-1 on the road this season, Saturday's victory was arguably its most important road win. The Lakers had not won a game decided by five points or less (having only played one other game - a 60-55 loss at Michigan Tech on Dec. 19 - that fits this category) and GVSU had to overcome a 29-20 halftime deficit to do so. With the win, Grand Valley State improves to 12-3 on the year and 6-3 in GLIAC play, while Hillsdale falls to 10-4 overall and 5-4 in the conference.

A strong second half was the key to the win, as GVSU shot 60.0 percent (15-of-25) from the field, made 4-of-6 three-pointers and 13-of-16 free throws in outscoring the Chargers by 11 points in the final frame. For the game, Grand Valley State shot 42.6 percent from the field and made 16-of-20 free throws for an 80.0 percentage. The Lakers, the top rebounding team in the GLIAC in rebounding margin at +9.5, owned a 40-27 edge on the boards, including 13 offensive rebounds.

GVSU started quickly, jumping to a 5-0 lead on a layup from sophomore guard Lauren Stodola and a three-pointer from forward Briauna Taylor. Hillsdale tied the score at 7-7 and pushed out to a 15-9 advantage nearing the midway point of the first half. Trailing 17-11, the Lakers scored three straight buckets from three sophomores - Alex Stelfox converted a layup, Stodola knocked down a jumper, and Brittany Taylor scored an inside bucket - to knot the game at 17-17 at the 6:06 mark.

The Chargers, however, answered with a 12-3 run to close out the half and take a 29-20 lead into the halftime break. It was easy to see why Hillsdale owned the nine-point lead, as GVSU shot just 27.6 percent from the field and made just 1-of-10 three-pointers in the first half. Hillsdale, on the other hand, shot 47.8 percent from the floor and knocked down four trifectas in the opening 20 minutes.

All that would change in the second half, as the Lakers scored the first nine points and just over two minutes into the half, GVSU had tied the score at 29-29. The Lakers received a pair of buckets from Stodola and Stelfox in a 22-second span, which was followed a minute later by a three-pointer from senior Elizabeth Van Tiflin. When Stelfox's subsequent jumper hit the bottom of the net at the 17:55 mark, the score was tied and the momentum was in GVSU's favor.

Hillsdale tried to pull away though and put together a 10-3 run that upped the Charger lead to 39-32, but Grand Valley State responded to tie the game at 41-41 after consecutive three-pointers from junior Jasmine Padin. A triple try from Briauna Taylor at the 9:03 mark swished in the net, gave the Lakers a 46-45 lead, and the visitors would not trail the rest of the game. From that point, Stelfox drained a pair of free throws, Brittany Taylor scored on a layup, and Stelfox added a three-point play with a layup and free throw to push GVSU's advantage out to 53-45.

The Laker lead would extend to nine points on a Briauna Taylor jumper with 3:36 remaining, but Grand Valley State hit a rough stretch and allowed Hillsdale back into the game. A Charger three-pointer cut the score to 63-61 with only 44 seconds left. Briauna Taylor and Padin stepped the charity stripe in the final 35 seconds and both knocked down a pair of free throws that ended up being enough for the two-point victory.

Four starters and five GVSU players reached double digits, with the Taylor sisters each totaling double figures. Briauna Taylor was the team's leading scorer (16 points) and rebounder (seven boards) as she made all six free throw attempts, while Brittany Taylor added 12 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting and five rebounds.

Stelfox was 5-of-11 from the field and totaled 13 points and four boards. Padin added 10 points, as she made a pair of three-pointers and all four free throw attempts, and dished out a game-high five assists. Stodola provided her second-best scoring game of the season, as she totaled 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting and added four boards and two assists. Sophomore Jessica Trambley did not attempt a field goal, but made a strong effort by pulling down six rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench.

GVSU returns home next Thursday (Jan. 20) for an 8:00 p.m. contest with visiting Northern Michigan in Fieldhouse Arena.