Women's Basketball Drops 65-53 Contest to No. 16 Grand Valley State

OVERVIEW – #16 GRAND VALLEY STATE

SCORE: No. 16 Grand Valley State Lakers 65, Northwood Timberwolves 53

RECORDS: Northwood (6-6, 0-5), Grand Valley State (11-1, 4-1 GLIAC)

LOCATION: Riepma Arena – Midland, Mich.

RECAP: Northwood women's basketball sees nine-point second half lead slip away in 65-53 loss to No. 16 Grand Valley State Thursday (January 6).

FIRST QUARTER

• The Timberwolves got off to a strong start in the game, scoring 14 of the first 20 points of the contest for an eight point lead with 2:39 remaining.
• GVSU made a push at the end of the quarter, scoring eight straight points in less than two minutes.
• NU eventually led 17-16 after one.
• Northwood ended the opening quarter at 38.5 percent from the floor (5-13), but did go 4-7 from 3-point range and 3-3 from the foul line.
• Grand Valley State was 7-13 from the floor in the first (53.8 percent) while making 1-4 from beyond the 3-point arc and 1-2 from the foul line.

SECOND QUARTER

• The second quarter was all about both teams defenses.
• Northwood did not score for the opening 5:20 of the quarter, but the Lakers scored just three points in that stretch.
• After not scoring in the opening 5:20, the Timberwolves scored on three straight possessions to go up 23-19.
• The Northwood lead was 25-24 at the break.
• Both teams struggled on offense in the second, each scoring eight points. NU was 4-17 from the floor (23.5 percent) and 0-4 from 3-point range.
• Grand Valley State was 2-10 from the floor (20.0 percent) while making 1-4 from the 3-point line and 3-8 from the foul line.

THIRD QUARTER

• The Timberwolves started the third quarter fast, scoring 14 points in the opening 4:59 to take a 39-30 lead.
• GVSU's defense then took over, holding NU to no field goals and three points the rest of the quarter.
• In that time, the Lakers out-scored Northwood 15-3 to take a 45-42 lead to the fourth.
• After struggling in the second, both teams picked up their offensive play in the third. NU was 5-11 from the floor (45.5 percent) and 7-8 from the foul line.
• Grand Valley State jumped up to 57.1 percent (8-14) from the floor in the third. The Lakers went 1-4 from the 3-point line and 4-6 at the foul line.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Northwood's field-goal drought extended to the 4:38 mark of the fourth, making it 9:37 without a field goal.
• GVSU scored the first 11 points of the fourth to cap off a 26-3 run to go up 56-42.
• Northwood got no closer than nine the rest of the way.
• The Lakers kept their momentum going on offense in the fourth, making 6-12 from the floor (50.0 percent). GVSU was 1-2 from the 3-point line and 7-8 from the foul line.
• Northwood was 4-13 from the floor (30.9 percent) in the fourth while going 1-5 from beyond the arc. NU made both of their free throws.

GAME STATS

• FG PERCENTAGE: Grand Valley State .469 (23-49), Northwood .333 (18-54)
• 3-PT PERCENTAGE: Grand Valley State .286 (4-14), Northwood .278 (5-18)
• FREE THROW PERCENTAGE: Grand Valley State .625 (15-24), Northwood .923 (12-13)
• REBOUNDS: Grand Valley State 36 (Seven offensive), Northwood 29 (Seven offensive)
• ASSISTS/TURNOVERS: Grand Valley State 14/15, Northwood 7/16

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Makenzie Todd: 14 points
• Ellie Taylor: 11 points, four rebounds
• Jayla Strickland: Eight points, seven rebounds, three blocks

UP NEXT

• The Timberwolves will host Davenport Saturday (January 8). Game time is set for 4 p.m.