Women's Basketball Stays Hot for Eighth Straight Win, Defeats SVSU 74-67

OVERVIEW – SAGINAW VALLEY

SCORE: Northwood Timberwolves 74, Saginaw Valley State Cardinals 67

RECORDS: Northwood (13-6, 7-5 GLIAC), Saginaw Valley (8-8, 3-6 GLIAC)

LOCATION: Riepma Arena – Midland, Mich.

RECAP: Northwood women's basketball makes it eight straight wins with a 74-67 victory over Saginaw Valley Saturday evening (February 5).

FIRST QUARTER

• SVSU scored the first two points of the game, which proved to be their only lead of the contest.
• Northwood scored 14 of the first 18 points of the game and led by as many as 11 in the first quarter.
• The Timberwolves eventually led 22-15 after one quarter.
• The Timberwolves finished the opening 10 minutes at 50.0 percent (7-14) from the floor. Northwood was 3-7 from the 3-point line and 5-7 from the foul line.
• Saginaw Valley finished the first at 42.9 percent (6-14). The Cardinals were 0-2 from the 3-point line and 3-4 from the foul line.

SECOND QUARTER

• The Northwood continued to control the play in the second, getting the lead to 10 early and keeping the advantage in double figures for the rest of the half.
• NU got the lead to 43-22 at the break.
• Northwood out-scored the Cardinals 21-7 in the quarter, thanks to going 8-16 from the floor. The Timberwolves made all four of their 3-point attempts and made the only free throw of the quarter.
• Saginaw Valley struggled from the floor in the second, going 3-15 overall (20.0 percent). The Cardinals were 1-4 from the beyond the arc and did not attempt a free throw.

THIRD QUARTER

• Northwood extended the lead to a game-high 26 points at 54-28 with 4:36 remaining in the third.
• SVSU went on a 16-3 run to get back within 13 before a late 3-pointer for the Timberwolves made the score 60-44 heading to the fourth.
• Saginaw Valley jumped up to 58.3 percent in the third, going 7-12 from the floor. SVSU were 2-4 from 3-point range and 6-7 from the foul line.
• Northwood fell back to 28.6 percent in the third, going 4-14 overall (28.6 percent). NU was 1-4 from the 3-point line and 8-9 from the foul line.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Saginaw Valley chipped away at the lead in the final quarter, getting within seven at 69-62 with 2:01 remaining.
• The Cardinals did not get within two possessions of the lead, however, until the final 25 seconds.
• Northwood went 5-15 from the floor in the fourth, good for 33.3 percent. The Timberwolves were 0-2 from 3-point range and 4-7 from the foul line.
• Saginaw Valley shot 50.0 percent in the fourth, making 8-16 overall. The Cardinals were 3-9 from beyond the arc and 4-4 from the foul line.

GAME STATS

• FG PERCENTAGE: Saginaw Valley .421 (24-57), Northwood .407 (24-59)
• 3-PT PERCENTAGE: Saginaw Valley .316 (6-19), Northwood .471 (8-17)
• FREE THROW PERCENTAGE: Saginaw Valley .867 (13-15), Northwood .750 (18-24)
• REBOUNDS: Saginaw Valley 29 (Four offensive), Northwood 35 (12 offensive)
• ASSISTS/TURNOVERS: Saginaw Valley 13/14, Northwood 11/13

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Alana Nelson 13 points, seven rebounds
• Jayla Strickland: 10 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two blocks.
• Ellie Taylor: 13 point, six rebounds
• Alli Keyser/Ava DiMilia: 11 points each

NORTHWOOD NOTES

• NU's eight-game winning streak is the longest for Northwood in 31 years. The 1990-91 team had a 10-game streak late in the season.

UP NEXT

• The Timberwolves returns home to take on Wayne State Monday (February 7). Game time is set for 6 p.m.