Box Score Wheeling, W. Va. – It was a battle inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center on Sunday as the Wheeling University Women's Basketball team (6-3, 4-2) battled #1 Grand Valley State. The Cardinals kept it close through the game's first 30 minutes, but in the end they fell 73-55 for their third loss of the season. Both defenses were strong throughout the day and the Cardinals battled hard against the top team in the nation.

It was a battle through the first half of the game and it began that way right from the get-go. Grand Valley State hit a three to start the contest, but Wheeling answered back on their next possession. This back and forth continued until the score sat at 5-5. Wheeling would take their first lead of the game courtesy of a Kenzie Dalton layup that gave them a 7-5 advantage. Grand Valley State would get the lead back and push it to 11-8 before a Shamia Strayhorn layup once again brought the Cardinals to within two. However, four unanswered points by the Lakers would make it a 15-10 game with 3:17 to play. Grand Valley State made another push and Wheeling responded to make it a 17-14 game after one quarter of play.

As the second quarter started, the Lakers began pulling away again, scoring four of the first six points to make it a 21-16 game at the 8:50 mark. Strayhorn hit a jumper to make it a 21-18 game, but Grand Valley State was off and running again to make it a 28-18 game with 3:15 to go. However, the Cardinals defense would not let up another Laker point over the final three minutes of the half as they fought to stay in the game. The Lakers defense was just as stingy, allowing just four points over that same span. Before they broke for the locker room, Kimora Pooler and Graci Fairman each hit jumpers before the half was out and the Cardinals went into the locker room with the score sitting at 28-22. It was a defensive half for both teams as the offenses we're looking to break through in the second half.

As the teams came back from the half, the team's split the first four points of the half and Wheeling made it a 30-26 game. Shamia Strayhorn hit a layup to make it a 32-28 game at the 7:51 mark as they kept it a four-point game. A jumper and a three-pointer extended the Lakers lead to 37-28 and four points later the lead was 41-32 at the first media timeout. Lauren Calhoun hit a layup to get the ball back in Wheeling's hands and they once again went on a run to make it a two-point game. During the run, Graci Fairman and Shanley Woods each hit threes during the run and at the 3:21 mark it was once again a 45-41 game. Grand Valley State would end the quarter on another run and at the end of the third quarter it was 54-42 in favor of Grand Valley State.

In the final quarter, the Cardinals continued their fight and scored 13 points over the final 10 minutes. After a Lakers three to start the fourth, Wheeling would hit back to back jumpers to make it a 57-46 game with 7:22 to play. The Cardinals continued to battle and got it to a 65-51 game with 4:10 to play. Graci Fairman and Kenzie Dalton finished up the scoring on the day for the Cardinals with a pair of layups and when it was all said and done Wheeling fell 73-55. It was a tough battle against the #1 team in the nation and gave the Cardinals good experience that they can use to build off of for the 2023 push to the MEC Women's Basketball Championship.

The Cardinals were led on the day by a career-best effort from freshman Graci Fairman off the bench. She accounted for 15 points while Shamia Strayhorn added 13 points to account for the two double digit scorers. Lauren Calhoun led the defensive side of the ball with seven rebounds and added eight points to her day. The Cardinal's defense put together their best effort of the season, allowing less than 20 points in three of the four quarters played. With another game tomorrow, the Cardinals will look for a bounce back effort as they try to get in the win column before the start of Christmas break.

The Wheeling University Women's Basketball team is back in action tomorrow night when they take on Lake Erie college at 5:30 PM. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.