Jan. 9, 2014

Box Score

Canton, Ohio - Sophomore guard Bailey Cairnduff and senior guard Dani Crandall combined for 44 points to lead the Grand Valley State women's basketball team to a sixth straight victory in GLIAC play. The Lakers shot 50.8 percent and held Walsh to 31.8 percent from the field in their 82-71 win.

Cairnduff knocked down 12-of-19 attempts to score a career-high 29 points. She also grabbed five rebounds and dished out two assists.

As for Crandall, she did most of her damage at the free throw line. The Eaton Rapids, Mich. product poured in 15 points, nine of which came at the charity stripe. Additionally, she collected five rebounds and handed out three assists.

Freshman forward Kayla Dawson joined her two teammates in double-figures with 10 points, while classmate Piper Tucker hauled in a game-high seven boards.

The Lakers found themselves trailing 5-0 less than two minutes after the opening tip, but Cairnduff sunk a three-pointer to spark a 10-2 run.

Things would remain close until another one of Cairnduff's five treys broke a 25-25 tie with 3:02 left in the first half. The Lakers closed the opening frame on a 12-4 run and took a 37-29 lead into the locker room.

Outside of one freebie by freshman guard Taylor Lutz, Cairnduff, Crandall and junior forward Kat LaPrairie recorded GVSU's first 15 points of the second frame. During that span, the Lakers built a 52-39 advantage and kept the Cavaliers at arms-length for the remainder of the game.

GVSU, which now sports an 8-3 overall record and 6-1 mark in GLIAC play, will stay in the state of Ohio for its clash with Malone this Saturday (Jan. 11). Tip off is set for 1:00 p.m. EST.

Notes:

Cairnduff's 29 points were the most by any Laker since Briauna Taylor scored 30 points in a victory over Michigan Tech on Jan. 12, 2013...Cairnduff also became the first Laker to make 12 field goals in a game since the 2010-11 season...Dawson has scored at least 10 points in each of GVSU's last five games...The Lakers are now 4-1 in night games...GVSU's 45 points in the second stanza matched its season-high for most points in a half...Five of the Lakers' six GLIAC victories have come by at least 11 points...GVSU's 82 points were also a season-high.