ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team ran into the defending national champions and the top-ranked team in the nation on Friday night, falling 92–45 to No. 1 Grand Valley State at the Fieldhouse Arena.

Grand Valley set the tone early with its pressure and pace, jumping out to a 27–4 lead after the first quarter. The Cardinals (2–5, 1–1 GLIAC) settled in during the middle frames, attacking the paint more consistently and putting up 24 points after halftime, but the Lakers (8–0, 2–0 GLIAC) continued to convert turnovers into offense and pulled away for the win.

Megan McCalla (Chelsea, Mich. / Chelsea HS) led SVSU with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, adding three rebounds and a block. Beckham Hockley (Tampa, Fla. / Sickles HS) knocked down three triples on her way to 11 points, while Lydia Meredith (Portland, Mich. / Portland St. Patrick's HS) finished with three points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Emma Riley (Fowler, Mich . / Fowler HS) provided a spark with four points, two boards, and two assists, and Lauren Borsenik (Hemlock, Mich. / Hemlock HS) added three points and four blocks in 19 minutes.

The Cardinals got on the board with a McCalla layup midway through the first, but GVSU's defensive pressure forced a series of turnovers that quickly stretched the gap. SVSU responded in the second quarter with its most efficient offensive stretch of the half—going 5-of-9 from the floor—but the Lakers continued to generate extra possessions and took a 51–15 lead into the locker room.

SVSU's best rhythm came in the third and early fourth quarters. McCalla powered through contact for multiple finishes, Hockley drilled back-to-back threes, and Riley and Borsenik helped the Cardinals get stops to string together a short run. GVSU answered with timely threes of its own and held control late.

The Cardinals shot 17-of-43 (39.5%) from the field and 4-of-15 (26.7%) from deep, adding seven points at the free-throw line.

Up Next: The Cardinals have a week off before heading to Kentucky for their final road non-conference game. Saginaw Valley plays Thomas More at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky on Monday, dec. 15 at 4:00 PM.