Nov. 18, 2012
Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Grand Valley State women's basketball team was led by senior Briauna Taylor (Livonia, Mich.) for the second straight game, as she posted her second double-double in as many days to lead the Lakers to a 75-57 win over Bowie State on Saturday (Nov. 18) to move the Lakers to 3-0 on the year.
The scoring got started by senior Alex Stelfox (Bowie, Md.), playing against her hometown college, who hit a jump shot just 41 seconds in to the game and the Lakers never relinquished the lead.
GVSU began pulling away near the the mid-point of the first half, as the Lakers, already up 16-12, went on a nine-point run that ended with a three-pointer by junior Breanna Kellogg (DeWitt, Mich.) to give the Lakers a 25-12 advantage.
The Lakers went on another run near the end of the first half, scoring the last seven points of the opening stanza, including a lay-up and three free throws by Taylor, to go in to the locker room up 41-26.
Taylor nearly had her double-double in the first half, as she exploded for 16 points and nine rebounds, including going 9-for-10 from the charity stripe. The Lakers shot 52.4-percent (11-for-21) in the first half and made their free throws count, going 16-for-18 (88.9-percent) from the line.
Bowie State appeared to be making a comeback midway through the second half. With GVSU leading 56-37, Bowie State forced a GVSU timeout after going on a six-point run to make it a 56-43 advantage. Following the timeout, however, Stelfox hit a jumper but Bowie State kept coming hard, cutting the deficit to only 10 at 58-48 with eight minutes to play.
A 10-2 run by the Lakers in the next couple minutes put the game away, including six straight points from senior Lauren Stodola (Jenison, Mich.). Up 68-50, GVSU was able to hold on the rest of the way, taking the game by a 75-57 score.
Taylor finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds for her second straight double-double, despite only hitting four shots from the floor and playing 26 minutes. Most of her damage was done at the free throw line, where Taylor went 14-for-16. Stelfox nearly put together a double-double of her own, tallying 14 points and nine rebounds on 4-of-6 shooting and a perfect 6-for-6 mark from the free throw line.
Stodola also scored in double digits, going for 13 points to go with three assists.
As a team, the Lakers dominated at the charity stripe, going 34-for-38 (89.5-percent) from the line. GVSU had a huge advantage in rebounds (41-27) and forced Bowie State in to 26 fouls compared to the Lakers' 15. A solid defensive effort by GVSU forced Bowie State in to shooting only 26.2-percent (17-for-65) from the field on the game.
GVSU (3-0) will now prepare for GLIAC play to get underway, as the Lakers will travel to Ashland, Ohio to take on the Eagles on Thursday, November 29th at 7:30 p.m.
