MARQUETTE, Mich. – Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball competed toe-to-toe with No. 14 Northern Michigan on Thursday night but came up short in an 80–69 setback at Vandament Arena. The Cardinals shot efficiently from the floor and the free-throw line, but Northern Michigan's three-point shooting and points off turnovers proved decisive.

Megan McCalla (Chelsea, Mich. / Chelsea HS) led the Cardinals with 16 points and six rebounds, while Lydia Meredith (Portland, Mich. / Portland St. Patrick's HS) added 12 points and a team-high five assists. She also had five boards and four steals. Lauren Borsenik (Hemlock, Mich. / Hemlock HS) controlled the glass with eight rebounds and chipped in nine points. Lainey Yater (McDonald, Pa. / South Fayette HS) finished with eight points on a perfect shooting night from the field.

Saginaw Valley opened the game with early energy, as Yater knocked down a three-pointer less than a minute in to give the Cardinals a 3–0 lead. The opening quarter featured multiple lead changes early, with McCalla connecting from deep twice and later scoring inside to help SVSU keep pace. Northern Michigan began to gain separation midway through the first quarter behind perimeter shooting, closing the period on a run to take a 26–18 advantage. In the second quarter, the Cardinals settled in offensively, trimming the deficit to as few as seven points. Borsenik provided a spark in the paint with a bucket and-one, while McCalla and Meredith converted at the free-throw line. Despite SVSU's improved play, Northern Michigan answered with timely threes and entered halftime leading 51–35.

Saginaw Valley came out of the locker room with renewed intensity in the third quarter, holding Northern Michigan to the lowest scoring quarter for either team with 14 points. Meredith scored early in the half, and McCalla finished through contact to cut the margin to single digits. Later in the quarter, Meredith buried a three-pointer and Borsenik added consecutive layups to bring the Cardinals within nine at 58–50. Northern Michigan responded late in the period to push the lead back to 65–52 entering the fourth. In the final quarter, SVSU continued to battle, getting key baskets from Emma Dziezgowski (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park HS) who finished with 10 points. However, the Wildcats sealed the game at the free-throw line and with late perimeter shooting, holding on for the 80–69 victory.

Saginaw Valley shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56) from the field and an efficient 40.0 percent (8-of-20) from three-point range, while converting 15-of-17 free throws (88.2 percent). The Cardinals outrebounded Northern Michigan 36–32 and held advantages in points in the paint (28–24) and fast-break points (9–2). Northern Michigan shot 44.3 percent overall and 48.1 percent from beyond the arc, finishing with 29 points off turnovers compared to SVSU's eight.

Up Next: Saginaw Valley continues the Upper Peninsula road trip as they head to Michigan Tech on Saturday, February 7. The Cardinals and the Huskies tip-off at 12:00 PM from the SDC Gymnasium.