Jan. 5, 2013
Box Score
ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Grand Valley State women’s basketball team struggled to find the basket as the Lakers fell 61-48 to visiting Malone on Saturday evening at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.
GVSU falls to 9-3 on the year and 5-3 in the GLIAC after finishing with its South Division opponents. Malone improves to 7-5 and 3-5 in league play.
It was a slow start for both teams as GVSU held a slight 12-5 edge at the 11:12 mark. Malone battled back over the next 10 minutes to take a 21-15 lead with less than two minutes in the half.
A jumper from junior Dani Crandall (Eaton Rapids, Mich.) stopped the run, but the Pioneers responded with two straight baskets from leading scorer Logan Pastor who finished the game with 17 points for a 25-17 lead with 40 seconds to play.
Each team hit a basket to close out the half as Malone took a 27-19 lead into the break. GVSU was limited to just eight field goals in the first half for its lowest first-half output of the season.
Malone quickly took a 10-point lead out of the break, 31-21, at the 18:05 mark, but two three pointers from junior Kellie Watson (Ionia, Mich.) sandwiched a Malone layup brought the Lakers within six, 33-27, with 16:01 to play.
After a three-point play from Deborah Simmers, GVSU went on a 15-5 run capped by a traditional three-point play from senior Alex Stelfox (Bowie, Md.) to give the Lakers’ a 42-41 lead, with 8:03 on the clock.
GVSU’s only lead of the second half was short lived though as Malone’s Selana Reale scored eight of her game 12 total points over the next three minutes to give the Pioneers a 49-42 edge.
Despite the GVSU defense forcing three shot clock violations in the final four minutes, Malone made all 10 of its free throws down the stretch to hand GVSU its third loss of the year.
Senior Briauna Taylor led in scoring for the second straight game, tallying 13 points on 6-of-14 from the floor, while also grabbing six rebounds. Watson was the only other double-figure scorer as she recorded 12 points off four three pointers. Watson also had eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal.
Stelfox was one point and one board short of a double-double as the center had nine points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes of play, while also recording a team-high three blocks. Crandall also chipped in nine points on 4-of-8 shooting.
Four Pioneers hit double-digits led by Pastor’s double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. Simmers and Reale each recorded 12 points, while Reale also grabbed nine rebounds. Lindsy Snyder rounded out the top scorers with 10 points, six of which came from the charity stripe.
GVSU shot a season-low 31 percent on 19-of-60 from the floor and were also just 5-of-9 from the line. Malone faired well from the line, hitting 17-of-19 for an 89 percent clip. The Pioneers shot just 37.7 percent from the field on 20-of-53. The Pioneers held a slight 38-35 edge off the glass
The Lakers continue their homestand on Thursday, Jan. 10 against GLIAC North Division foe Northern Michigan at 8 p.m. at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.
