January 16
Women's Basketball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cardinals Defeated By Michigan Tech, 89-66

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Andrea Novak scored 15 of her game-high 19 points in the first half, and Jill Lehner added ten as Michigan Tech beat SVSU 89-66 Thursday night (Jan. 16) in the James E. O’Neill Jr. Arena. The loss was the Cardinals’ fifth straight and drops their overall record to 4-11 (0-7 GLIAC) on the season, while the visiting Huskies improved to 9-6 (5-2 GLIAC).
    The game stayed close for most of the first half as both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor. Tech scored the last eight points of the half, taking an eleven-point advantage into the break (46-35)..
    “We played a solid first half and did some nice things offensively, but we still gave up a high percentage shooting to Tech and that’s something we need to improve upon in order to be successful in this conference,” stated head coach Kim Chandler.
    The Cardinals plummeted to 26.7 percent from the field hitting only 8-of-30 in the second half. The Huskies took control early thanks to a 13-6 run, which eventually helped build a 31-point lead. SVSU narrowed the deficit but ultimately couldn’t overcome its poor shooting.
    “In the second half we struggled offensively and just didn’t have any counter on the defensive end,” said Chandler.
    Senior Erin Johnson (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) paced the Cardinals with 18 points and seven boards. Off the bench, freshman Elicia Kinner (Pellston, Mich.) recorded twelve points, hitting 2-of-3 from behind the arc, while sophomore Brandi Phillips (Frankenmuth, Mich.) added ten points and three steals.
    The sharp-shooting Huskies shot 56.9 percent for the game, draining 37-of-65 and 9-of-20 from long range. Amanda Sieja rounded out Tech’s scoring assault with eleven points and seven boards.
    SVSU out scored MTU 18-6 from the charity strip, but was out rebounded 39-33 after coming into the game as the top rebounding team in the conference. MTU used a 49-25 edge in bench points, a 20-8 advantage in assists, and a 30-18 edge in points in the paint. Both squads committed at least 20 turnovers.
    “We’re just going to keep mixing things up until we can find some things that will work for us,” Chandler suggested.
    The Cardinals return to the hardwood Saturday afternoon (Jan. 18) at 1:00 p.m. when they host Northern Michigan in the James E. O’Neill Jr. Arena.

Contact: Daniel Tata (989) 964-4933

 

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