Nov. 17, 2012
Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senior Briauna Taylor led the Grand Valley State women's basketball team with a double-double en route to a, 73-67, victory at District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon.
The Lakers improve to 2-0 on the early season and return to the court on Sunday against Bowie State at 1 p.m. District of Columbia falls to 1-3 on the year.
Taylor (Livonia, Mich.) filled the stat sheet for the Lakers recording her first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds along with seven assists, two blocks and two steals. Classmate Lauren Stodola (Jenison, Mich.) scored 15 points for the second straight game on 3-of-5 from the floor including two from long range and a 7-for-10 outing from the charity stripe. Senior Alex Stelfox (Bowie, Md.) chipped in 11 points on 5-for-9 from the floor, while pulling down six rebounds.
For most of the first half neither team could find a rhythm as the game saw five ties and seven lead changes by the seven minute mark. Grand Valley State finally pulled ahead thanks to a pair of three-point shots from junior Breanna Kellogg (DeWitt, Mich.) and junior Kellie Watson (Ionia, Mich.) to give the Lakers a 29-21 lead with 6:11 remaining in the first half.
The Firebirds close the gap to five over the next six minutes, but GVSU held UDC to just one field goal over that time. A jumper from Stelfox with seven seconds left secured a 38-31 lead heading into the break.
GVSU was able to maintain its lead through the opening five minutes of the half until UDC went on a 9-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Jadda Jefferies to go up 50-48 with 11:34 left in the half.
The lead changed three more times before GVSU tied it up twice at 56 and 58 on baskets from sophomore Kat LaPrairie (Rockford, Mich.) and Kellogg. With less than six minutes to play in the game, Watson hit her second three of the game to give the Lakers a lead they would never relinquish. GVSU helped their own cause hitting eight out of nine free throws down the stretch.
Watson chipped in seven points off the bench while recording a career-high six assists. Sophomore Emily England (Metamore, Mich.) and junior Dani Crandall (Eaton Rapids, Mich.) each tallied eight points a piece.
For the game, GVSU went 46 percent (23-50), while going 7-of-21 from the floor. UDC was 24-of-59 (40 percent) from the floor and were limited to just four three-pointers. The Lakers held a 40-32 edge off the class to record 15 second-chance points. The team also had 16 assists on its 23 baskets.
Denikka Brent had a game-high 28 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 11-of-18 from the line. Janelle Junior recorded 11 points, while Jefferies added 10.
