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Printer-Friendly ModeCardinals snap 12- game losing skid
February 15, 2010 —
There was a different feeling inside the Cardinals’ locker room after its game against Tiffin.
That feeling was one of accomplishment, as SVSU ended a 12-game losing streak after defeating the Dragons, 82-78.
“We were all very excited,” sophomore guard Marah Kyle said. “We know we are a good team and we finally got the chance to show that.”
The Cardinals jumped out to a fast start and led 49-28 at the half. In the second half, the lead grew to 24 although Tiffin battled back.
With 1:29 remaining, a Tiffin threepointer gave the Dragons a 78-77 lead, its first lead of the game. The Cardinals were determined to not let another close game slip away.
“We played with a lot of heart the entire game,” Kyle said. “We didn’t want to undo all our hard work, so we gave it our all to make sure we came away with a win.”
SVSU ended the game on a 5-0 run, sealing the victory.
A jumper by junior guard Kelley Wesp with 30 seconds remaining was the game winner.
Four Cardinals scored in double figures including two from the bench. It was the kind of team effort SVSU needed to end the losing streak.
“We need everyone to come in the game ready to play,” Kyle said. “Everyone stepped up and contributed to the win.”
Bench scoring favored the Cardinals by a wide margin, 40-19.
Earlier in the season, bench production was a concern of head coach Shannon Baugh, although that seems to be a nonissue lately.
“It’s always nice to be able to give your starters rest and not drop off in production when someone else comes in,” Baugh said.
Tiffin out-rebounded the Cardinals 34-30. Small disadvantages like that have proven costly to SVSU this season. Against the Dragons, the Cardinals were able to overcome the deficit.
Leading the way offensively for the Cardinals was junior forward Rhonda Gusa who finished with 16 points. Freshman forward Jasmine Kennedy added 15 points. Both Gusa and Kennedy came off the bench.
Kyle and junior forward Brittany Burkhardt were the other Cardinals in double figures with 11 points.
Before beating Tiffin, the Cardinals were defeated by Ashland, 76-63.
It was a tale of two halves as SVSU led 41-35 at the half behind 54 percent shooting from the field and 63 percent from beyond the arc.
In the second half, the numbers fell to 29 percent from the field and 20 percent from beyond the arc. After only five turnovers in the first half, SVSU turned it over 16 times in the second half.
“Our coach always tells us that basketball is a game of runs,” Kyle said. “We made our run in the first half and they made theirs in the second.
Ashland held a 42-28 advantage in points in the paint. To Kyle, that was no surprise.
“They are a team that likes to score off penetration, so it makes sense they scored so many points in the paint,” Kyle said.
SVSU had only two players score in double figures, both of which came off the bench.
Freshman guard Aysha Boston and Kennedy each scored 11 points.
With the starters struggling to score, the Cardinals couldn’t compete with Ashland forward Micki Kuns, who had 25 points.
The split brings SVSU’s record to 5-18 overall, 3-15 in the GLIAC.
The Cardinals are host to two games this week. Ferris State comes to town Thursday for a 6 p.m. start followed by Grand Valley at 5 p.m. Saturday. SVSU lost to both opponents earlier in the season, including a last second buzzer beater to Ferris State. Kyle is excited for the chance at revenge.
“Grand Valley is a very good team, although we want to show them we have come a long way since last time. We want to beat both badly and start a winning streak.”