Dec. 18, 2006

Box Score

Junior guard Erin Cyplik hit the game-winning jumper with 0.7 seconds left in overtime to give #3 Grand Valley State a 73-71 victory over #2 Emporia State Monday night at the Northern Kentucky Tournament. The Lakers improve to 10-1 overall, while the Hornets fall to 7-2. GVSU will play host school #16 Northern Kentucky on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Grand Valley jumped out to an early 9-0 lead at the 15:45 mark, but over the next four minutes Emporia State cut the lead to one point, 9-8. The Hornets knocked down a three-point at the 10 minute mark to take their first lead of the game, 13-11. Emporia State took its biggest lead of the game, 24-18, with 2:28 remaining in the first half, but GVSU scored seven straight points to take a 25-24 halftime lead.

Grand Valley took a four point lead, 33-29, on a layup by senior guard Taushauna Churchwell, but the Hornets came back, taking a five point lead with 9:04 left in the game. The Lakers tied the game at 50-50 and then went on an 8-2 run to take a 58-52 lead with just 4:01 remaining in the game. Tegan Stuart hit a three-pointer to give the Hornets a one point lead, but senior gaurd Erika Ryskamp hit a free throw to tie the game for the eighth time (63-63). Senior center Julia Braseth made a layup to put the Lakers up, 65-63, with just 26 seconds left in the game, but Casey Henningsen made a layup of her own with 12 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Emporia State jumped out to a four point lead, 70-66, with just 2:45 left in the overtime, but another Ryskamp free throw tied the game for the 10th time at 71-71. A steal by Churchwell gave the Lakers the ball with 29 seconds left. Ryskamp missed a jumper, but Churchwell pulled down the offensive rebound, setting up Cyplik's game-winning jumper.

Just seven Lakers played tonight and four of them scored in double-figures. Senior center Julia Braseth led all scorers with 24 points, seven rebounds, and two steals in 45 minutes of action. Senior guard Erika Ryskamp tallied 18 points, two steals, and a rebound, while junior guard Crystal Zick added 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Senior guard Taushauna Churchwell chipped in 10 points, six steals, five rebounds, and five assists and junior guard Erin Cyplik had six points, seven rebounds, and a steal. Sophomore Kim Wyngaard pulled down four rebounds and added two assists, a block, and a steal.