Jan. 8, 2011

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - In what turned out to be a tremendous GLIAC game, Lake Superior State had enough down the stretch to hold off #11 Grand Valley State in overtime, 79-72, on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 8) in Allendale. The hometown Lakers tied the score at 65-65 on a late three-pointer from Jasmine Padin, sending the game into overtime, but LSSU scored the game's final seven points to seal the victory.

Lake Superior State came into the game undefeated in the GLIAC and stays at that mark with a perfect 6-0 conference record, as the visiting Lakers are 9-3 on the year. GVSU falls to 11-2 overall and 5-2 in league play. Grand Valley State's two losses are to two Upper Peninsula schools (Michigan Tech, LSSU) and are by a combined 12 points. It was the first loss in seven games at home for GVSU this season.

It was a tight game throughout, as the biggest lead was Lake Superior State's 10-point advantage midway through the first half. There were 11 lead changes and the score was tied five times in the 45-minute contest. GVSU shot 43.3 percent from the field and made 8-of-22 three-pointers, while Lake Superior State made 41.5 percent of its shots and scored on 8-of-21 triple tries. LSSU outrebounded Grand Valley State, 41-37, and forced GVSU into 15 turnovers, while committing 12 of its own.

Early on, Lake Superior State took control, leading 10-4 just four minutes into the game and extending its lead to 24-14 at the 8:47 mark. Grand Valley State then made its run. Sophomore center Alex Stelfox scored on a layup and added the free throw for an old-fashioned three-point play. A minute later, senior Elizabeth Van Tiflin connected on a three-pointer, which was followed just 15 seconds later (after a Stelfox steal) by a trifecta from Padin. When Padin added a layup 31 seconds later, GVSU had ran off an 11-0 spurt and re-gained a 25-24 lead.

Lake Superior State then used a 15-8 run of its own to push ahead 39-33 before a jumper from sophomore Briauna Taylor made the score 39-35 in LSSU's favor at halftime. Grand Valley State trailed despite shooting 51.7 percent from the field in the first half and owning a 14-2 edge in bench points. LSSU shot 45.5 percent from the floor, made five three-pointers, and led in rebounding, 17-14, after the opening 20 minutes.

Sophomore Lauren Stodola scored on a jumper early in the second half and minutes later, a bucket from Stelfox put GVSU back on top, 40-39, as Lake Superior State was held scoreless for the opening four minutes of the second stanza. But LSSU converted a pair of free throws at the 15:57 mark for its first points of the second half and the visiting Lakers would hold the lead for nearly the rest of the half.

Every time GVSU would get close, Lake Superior State would score on a bucket, staying just a few points ahead of the home Lakers. LSSU led 63-57 after a three-pointer from Emily Joseph, but Stelfox responded with a layup, cutting the deficit to four points. Van Tiflin then buried a three-pointer moments later, making the score 63-62. Joseph again answered for Lake Superior State, scoring on a jumper and pushing the lead back out to 65-62 with 42 seconds remaining.

Sophomore Brittany Taylor came up with a big offensive rebound with 18 seconds left, keeping possession on GVSU's side, but only leaving a few seconds left on the shot clock. After three consecutive timeouts (two from Grand Valley State), Padin inbounded the ball to Briauna Taylor, wrapped around the arc behind Taylor to take a handoff, and launched a three-pointer as the shot clock was expiring. Padin's triple try hit the bottom of the net with 12 seconds left, as the spirited crowd went wild. With a dozen seconds left though, Lake Superior State got a good look on the other end, but Joseph's jumper hit the front rim and the game was headed to overtime. It was the first overtime game for Grand Valley State since Jan. 28, 2010, when the Lakers fell to Michigan Tech, 75-71, in double overtime in Allendale.

Lake Superior State scored first in the extra frame on a layup from Maria Blazejewski, which was answered just 10 seconds later by Briauna Taylor, who buried a three-pointer. On the other end, Blazejewski scored again on a jumpshot. After three LSSU free throws, the visiting Lakers were ahead 72-68 with 2:47 left. Brittany Taylor then scored inside on a jumper and after a LSSU turnover, Stelfox scored on a jumper, tying the score at 72-72 with 1:17 left.

With under one minute to play, Lake Superior State got a good look in the left corner and Nicole Marshall drained a three-pointer with 49 seconds left, putting the score at 75-72. Grand Valley State turned the ball over on its possession and although LSSU made just 4-of-8 free throws in the final 25 seconds, it was enough to finish off GVSU in a seven-point victory.

Surprisingly, Grand Valley State won all five speciality statistic categories, including a large 20-5 edge in bench points and a 34-26 advantage in the paint. GVSU held one-point edges in points off turnovers (15-14) and second chance points (13-12), while scoring all five fast break points in the game.

Stelfox totaled a team-high 21 points (one shy of her career-high), dished out a personal-best five assists, and pulled down five boards. She shot 9-of-16 from the floor and rejected three LSSU shots in 40 minutes. Padin recorded 13 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds in 41 minutes of action, as she rarely came off the floor.

Both Taylor girls totaled 10 points apiece. Briauna was 4-of-13 shooting, but pulled down seven rebounds to go with two assists, a steal, and a block. Brittany was 4-of-6 from the field and added five rebounds and an assist before fouling out late in overtime. Van Tiflin notched a game-high eight rebounds to go with her six points (on a pair of three's) and three assists.

The Lakers return to the Fieldhouse Arena floor next Wednesday (Jan. 12) at 8:00 p.m. against the Northwood Timberwolves.