Lady Cardinals drop two games in Missouri

November 20, 2006 —

Despite the efforts of newcomer Brittany Burns, the SVSU women's basketball team dropped its first two games of the season over the weekend.

The Lady Cardinals, playing in the University of Missouri-Rolla Tip-Off Classic, lost to Henderson State on Friday night before falling to the host team on Saturday.

Burns, a junior who transferred from Alabama State last year but was forced to sit out due to eligibility reasons, scored 20 points against Henderson State and 21 against Missouri-Rolla.

She hit a three-pointer with just over two minutes to play on Saturday to put SVSU ahead 55-52, but the Lady Cardinals were unable to keep the lead.

Jamie Forsberg scored from behind the arc to put the Miners ahead by one with 1:13 to go, and the Miners added two free throws to put SVSU down three with one last chance to tie.

Sophomore Tricia Everett missed a three-pointer with four seconds left, though, and the Lady Cardinals were forced to foul.

Tamara McCaskill hit both free throws for the final points of the game, giving the Miners a 60-55 victory.

Burns was 7-of-14 from behind the arc and 7-of-20 overall, and had six rebounds and three assists. Senior Valerie Smith added 14 points, five boards, and three blocks.

SVSU had 15 turnovers for the game, an improvement from the previous day, when the team committed 25.

Henderson State scored 22 points off those 25 turnovers, and went on a 19-4 run in the second half to come back for a 68-59 win.

The Lady Cardinals took a 47-40 lead with 12:16 left in the game, but HSU went on its run and led 59-51 with 5:12 left.

Burns shot 7-of-16 from the floor, including 3-of-9 from three-point range. Junior LaTille Ross, Burns' teammate at Alabama State, scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds in her SVSU debut.

The Lady Cardinals begin their GLIAC schedule with a trip to Allendale to face No. 1 Grand Valley State on Thursday, Nov. 30.