Grayer leads Lady Cardinals in loss to Michigan Tech

December 12, 2005 —

by Brandon Kish

Sophomore Kali Briggs attacks the Michigan Tech defense during Saturday's 51-43 loss. The 5'10" Briggs entered the game leading the Lady Cardinals with 15.8 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game, but had just five points on 2-for-6 shooting and six boards. The defeat was SVSU's second straight loss.

by Brandon Kish

Junior Mickey Grayer goes to the hoop against Michigan Tech on Saturday. The 6'2" forward scored 17 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, and blocked four shots but shot just 7-for-20 from the field.

For the second straight week, the SVSU women's basketball team showed two different sides of itself in two separate games.

Two days after losing 70-46 to Northern Michigan on Thursday night, the Lady Cardinals stayed close with an even better Michigan Tech team before losing 51-43 on Saturday.

"We were two different teams from Thursday to Saturday," said coach Vonnie Killmer. A week earlier, SVSU was blasted 82-47 but rebounded two days later to beat Ferris State.

The Lady Huskies went without a field goal for the last six and a half minutes of the second half, but used an 8-0 run off free throws in the last minute and a half of play to seal the victory.

The second half featured six lead changes and two ties in the first four minutes of play, but the Lady Cardinals could not take the lead after that.

The score was stuck at 45-41 for nearly five minutes before freshman guard Tricia Everett brought the lead down to 45-43. The Huskies made their free throws while the Cardinals could not answer.

"We have no leaders yet," Killmer said in reference to the team's scoring drought. "That speaks to how young we are. We have no 'go to player' yet."

Forward Mickey Grayer is attempting to fill that role. The 6'2" junior scored 17 points and added 19 rebounds and four blocks while playing all 40 minutes. However, she shot just 7-of-20 on mostly fadeaway jumpers inside the lane.

"She hasn't figured out that with the girls she's going up against, she doesn't have to make a move, she can go up strong," Killmer said. "Right now she's just fading away."

Sophomore forward Kali Briggs also played the entire 40 minutes, but managed just five points on 2-of-6 shooting. Briggs, who came in averaging a team-high 15.8 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game, was taken out of the game by Tech's defense.

"They played good (defense) on Kali," Killmer said. "They took her out of the game. They have a good post game. That is their strength."

The Lady Huskies have nine players 5'10" or taller on the roster, compared to SVSU's five. Seven of the Huskies' tallest players saw action in the game, while only six Lady Cardinals on the entire roster saw the floor.

"Our bench is just not giving us a lot yet," Killmer said.

Junior Huskies forward Jenna Bartels led Tech with 16 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Catherine Rottier contributed 12 points, five boards and five assists.

SVSU came into the game averaging just over 60 points per game on 41 percent shooting, and were held much below their averages in both categories.

For the game, the Lady Cardinals shot just 27.7 percent from the field, including 25 percent (3-of-12) on three pointers.

The Lady Huskies were also held below their averages of nearly 63 points per game and 42 percent shooting.

MTU shot just 32 percent, but went 6-of-14 (42.9 percent) from the three point line.

The loss drops SVSU to 2-6 (1-4 GLIAC), while the Lady Huskies improved to 7-1 (3-0).

The Lady Cardinals will be taking a trip to the east coast of the country next week, as they play at Bryant in Smithfield, Rhode Island on Sunday, Dec. 18 followed by a game at Stonehill in Easton, Massachusetts the next day.

They conclude the trip with a contest at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell on Dec. 21.