The Grand Valley State women's basketball team fell 51-45 to Saginaw Valley State on Thursday, Dec 2 in the first conference game of the season. The Lakers are now 0-1 in GLIAC play and are now 5-1 on the season. 

The Lakers were slow to start offensively. Shooting just 27% from the floor in the first quarter and 20% in the second, GVSU trailed 24-19 at halftime. However, the Laker's defense held the Cardinals to just nine points at a 14% clip from the floor in the second quarter. Sophomore Rylie Bisballe led the way for the Lakers in the first half with eight points and four rebounds. 

Despite the Cardinals' 12-5 run to start the third quarter, GVSU and SVSU broke even in the third scoring 14 points a piece. After being down seven to start the fourth quarter, the Lakers pulled within three (43-40) with 3:26 left in the game. SVSU extended the lead to 46-40 until senior Emily Spitzley drained a three to bring it back within three points with 53 seconds left. SVSU hit a jumper in the paint as the shot clock was winding down and Spitzley was able to match it with a basket of her own with 10 seconds left. Down three, the Lakers had to foul to get possession of the basketball back and SVSU knocked down their free throws. The Lakers fell 51-45. 

Grand Valley State shot 27% from the floor and 15% from behind the arc. The Lakers won the rebounding battle 40-34 and scored 11 points off of their 11 offensive boards. Rylie Bisballe led the Lakers with 15 points, nine rebounds, and finished 9-10 from the free throw line. Emily Spitzley also finished with 15 points and grabbed six boards for the Lakers. Senior Samantha Gehrls grabbed eight boards for the Lakers and shot a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. 

The Lakers are back in action at home this Saturday for a double-header against Wayne State. The women's game will tip off at 1:00 p.m. with the men's game following after.