Ellie Taylor Reaches 1,000 Career Points In 70-61 Loss At No. 4 Grand Valley State

OVERVIEW – #4 GRAND VALLEY STATE

SCORE: #4 Grand Valley State Lakers 70, Northwood Timberwolves 61

RECORDS: Northwood (15-9, 9-8 GLIAC), Grand Valley State (23-1, 16-1 GLIAC)

LOCATION: GVSU Fieldhouse Arena – Allendale­, Mich.

RECAP: Ellie Taylor reaches the 1,000 career point milestone for Northwood women's basketball, but the Timberwolves drop a hard-fought 70-61 contest at No. 4 Grand Valley State Saturday (February 19).

FIRST QUARTER

• The Lakers were the better team early, scoring eight of the first 10 points before holding a 14-5 lead.
• NU finished the quarter strong, scoring 10 of the final 13 points to make the GVSU lead 17-15 after one.
• Northwood ended the opening quarter at 46.2 percent from the floor, making 6-13 field goal attempts. NU was 3-4 from the 3-point line.
• Grand Valley State went 7-16 overall (43.8 percent). They were 2-3 from the 3-point line and 1-4 at the foul line.

SECOND QUARTER

• The Lakers got their lead to 28-20 with less than three minutes remaining in the half when the Timberwolves finished strong.
• NU scored the final seven points of the half to send the game to the break with the Lakers leading 28-27.
• Both teams fell back with their shooting in the second – Northwood was 3-10 overall (30.0 percent). The Timberwolves were 1-5 from the 3-point line and 5-7 on free throws.
• The Lakers were 4-15 overall (26.7 percent) in the second quarter. GVSU was 1-5 from beyond the 3-point arc and 2-2 at the foul line.

THIRD QUARTER

• GVSU held the lead throughout the third quarter, but the score remained close throughout.
• The advantage stayed between one and six points in the quarter, which ended with Grand Valley State leading 51-47.
• Both offenses picked up their efficiency in the third – the Lakers were 10-14 from the floor (71.4 percent). Grand Valley State was 1-4 from 3-point range and 2-5 at the foul line.
• Northwood was 7-16 overall in the third, good for 43.8 percent. The Timberwolves were 2-5 from the 3-point line and 4-6 at the foul line.

FOURTH QUARTER

• The score was tied 60-60 with three minutes remaining when the key stretch of the game took place.
• NU had a chance to take a lead on a fast break but were unable to convert. GVSU then went in transition the other way and made a 3-pointer to take the lead.
• That started a 10-1 run to finish the game to give the Lakers the win.
• Northwood shot 37.5 percent from the floor in the final 10 minutes, making 6-16 overall. NU missed all three of its 3-point attempts and were 2-5 at the foul line.
• Grand Valley State was 5-14 overall (35.7 percent). The Lakers made 1-4 from the 3-point line and 8-13 at the free throw line.

GAME STATS

• FG PERCENTAGE: Grand Valley State .441 (26-59), Northwood .400 (22-55)
• 3-PT PERCENTAGE: Grand Valley State .313 (5-16), Northwood .375 (6-16)
• FREE THROW PERCENTAGE: Grand Valley State .565 (13-23), Northwood .611 (11-18)
• REBOUNDS: Grand Valley State 38 (13 offensive), Northwood 35 (11 offensive)
• ASSISTS/TURNOVERS: Grand Valley State 15/9, Northwood 9/17

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Ellie Taylor: 14 points, six rebounds, two assists
• Jayla Strickland: 13 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, two steals
• Ally Keyser: 13 points, 3-3 from 3-point range

NORTHWOOD NOTES

• Ellie Taylor needed 13 points in the game to reach the 1,000 point milestone in the game. She reached the mark on a layup with 4:28 remaining that tied the game 58-58. Taylor is the 18th member of the 1,000 point club at Northwood and is the first to reach the milestone since Maddy Seeley, who scored her 1,000th point November 17, 2017.

UP NEXT

• The Timberwolves travel Davenport Monday (February 21). Game time is set for 6 p.m.