Box Score ASHLAND, Ohio – If the shots are falling, there is no reason to stop shooting them. Sophomore guard Lindsay Tenyak (Wadsworth, Ohio) discovered that game plan Thursday (Jan. 20) night at the O'Neill Center, leading the Eagles to a 79-60 win over Saginaw Valley State in GLIAC action.
The 5-foot-8 Tenyak was 10-for-11 from the field, including a perfect 6-for-6 from three-point range on her way to a career-high 27 points in 27 minutes off the bench for AU head coach Sue Ramsey. Tenyak's line also included five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Her previous career high was 18 points and came in a win at Hillsdale on Dec. 2 this season. Her six three-pointers without a miss are the most for an Eagle since at least the 1999-2000 season.
Junior guard Jena Stutzman (Berlin, Ohio/Hiland/Kent State) opened the game with a three-pointer, but the Cardinals went on a 9-0 run to take a 9-3 lead early in the first half. Tenyak's three cut the lead in half and then two straight three-pointers from Tenyak gave the Eagles a 14-10 lead with over 12 minutes left in the first half.
Ashland (10-5, 5-3 GLIAC) maintained the lead for the remainder of the stanza, going up by as many as 10 points. SVSU (4-11, 2-7 GLIAC) battled back and trailed the Eagles by just one, 36-35, at halftime.
The Eagles did not lead by more than six points early in the second half and the Cardinals eventually took a 51-50 lead with 11:20 to play after consecutive baskets by Cheritee Green.
Sophomore guard Kaci Finfrock (West Milton, Ohio/Milton-Union) knocked down a three-pointer and then a layup to give AU a four-point advantage. She had 14 points – one shy of a career high – and handed out a career-best eight assists.
The teams traded a couple baskets, but Tenyak's three-pointer sprung a 22-3 run that saw the Cardinals go without a field goal for nearly eight minutes until Jasmine Kennedy closed the scoring at 79-60 with 21 seconds remaining.
The Eagles held the Cardinals to just 23.5 percent shooting in the second half and 30.4 percent for the game from the field. Ashland hit at 57.7 percent clip in the second half, including a 5-for-6 mark from three-point range.
Ashland won the battle on the glass, 42-39, and also had a decisive advantage in fast-break points, 16-4.
Sophomore forward Daiva Gerbec (Dublin, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) chipped in with her seventh double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Green led the Cardinals with 13 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Kristen Greene had 11 points for SVSU.
The Eagles continue their road trip through the GLIAC North on Saturday (Jan. 22) afternoon with a game at Lake Superior State, which beat Lake Erie, 84-56, on Thursday.
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