Women's Basketball Earns 69-64 Win In Season-Opener At SVSU

OVERVIEW – SAGINAW VALLEY

SCORE: Northwood Timberwolves 69, Saginaw Valley State Cardinals 64

RECORDS: Northwood (1-0), Saginaw Valley (0-1)

LOCATION: O'Neil Arena – University Center, Mich.

RECAP: Northwood Women's Basketball makes big plays down the stretch to earn a hard-fought 69-64 win at rival Saginaw Valley Friday night (November 14).

GAME STORY

• The game was close throughout the contest. Northwood held the biggest lead of the opening quarter at 12-7.  NU eventually held a 16-15 advantage after 10 minutes.
• Saginaw Valley took the biggest lead of the game at the 5:29 mark of the second quarter at 28-21. The Timberwolves were better team the rest of the half, outscoring SVSU 10-3 to tie the score 31-31 at the break.
• The largest lead for either team in the third quarter was four, which SVSU held one minute in. Northwood scored in the final moments of the quarter to send the game to the fourth with the Cardinals on top 50-49.
• NU scored the first five points of the fourth to go up 54-50. SVSU tied the game twice over the final 6:47 but were never able to take the lead. A 6-0 run gave Northwood their biggest lead of the game at 60-54 with 5:37 remaining. Saginaw Valley responded with seven of the next nine points to get within one at 62-61, only to see Northwood go 5-6 from the foul line in the final 39 seconds to close out the victory.

 GAME STATS

• FG PERCENTAGE: Saginaw Valley .406 (26-64), Northwood .414 (24-58)
• 3-PT PERCENTAGE: Saginaw Valley .300 (6-20), Northwood .333 (8-24)
• FREE THROW PERCENTAGE: Saginaw Valley .545 (6-11), Northwood .684 (13-19)
• REBOUNDS: Saginaw Valley 44 (11 offensive), Northwood 36 (Five offensive)
• ASSISTS/TURNOVERS: Saginaw Valley 15/20, Northwood 11/15

 TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Lea Holmes: 26 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two steals, 12-17 from the floor
• Maeve St. John: 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists
• Karie Keefer: Nine points, four steals
• Ella Miller: Seven points, six rebounds, two blocks, two assists

 NORTHWOOD NOTES

• After losing to SVSU last season, Northwood has now won four of their last five against the Cardinals.
• Playing in her first collegiate game, Keefer had six points and all four of her steals in the fourth quarter.

 UP NEXT

• The Timberwolves travel to Lake Superior State Sunday (November 16). Game time is set for 1 p.m.