Nov. 13, 2011

Box Score

RENSSELAER, Ind. – The No. 21 Grand Valley State women’s basketball team dropped a 66-47 decision at Saint Joseph’s in its season opener on Sunday afternoon at Richard F. Scharf Alumni Fieldhouse. 

GVSU held the small lead until 15:15, but a three-pointer from the Pumas’ Jen Szala gave Saint Joseph’s a lead it never relinquished. 

The Pumas stretched an 18-4 run over nine minutes to lead 23-11 with 3:23 in the first half.  The Lakers came within five thanks to four points from Brittany Taylor (Livonia, Mich.) and a three-pointer from junior Lauren Stodola (Jenison, Mich.), closing out the half on a 9-2 run of their own.

Saint Joseph’s held GVSU to 27 percent shooting in the first half including a 1-for-5 mark from behind the arc, while the Pumas had a 30 percent clip from the field.

The Lakers were able to pull within four to start the second half, but Saint Joseph’s used a 19-5 run to go ahead by 18, 48-30 at the 10:14 mark and the lead never dipped below double digits for the rest of the game.

Saint Joseph’s scored 21 points off the Lakers’ 24 turnovers, while notching seven long balls to the Lakers’ one.  GVSU held a 53-34 edge off the boards, including a 17-7 advantage in offensive caroms scoring 10 second chance points.

Junior Briauna Taylor (Livonia, Mich.) had team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, while dishing out three assists and recording two blocks.  Junior Brittany Taylor (Livonia, Mich.) had 14 points and eight rebounds and sophomore Dani Crandall (Eaton Rapids, Mich.) collected 10 boards.

The Pumas’ Britney Cruse led all scorers with 20 points, going 6-for 15 from the floor.

Grand Valley State now has nine days before it hosts Aquinas on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. at the GVSU Fieldhouse.