BIG RAPIDS, Mich.  – The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team traveled to Ferris State University for the first of two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contests on Friday in Big Rapids, Mich.

The Cardinals jumped out to an early advantage, leading by eight after the first quarter, but the Bulldogs rallied to close the half and led 29-28 at the break. Ferris State held on through a closely contested second half and emerged with a 65-58 win.

The loss drops the Cardinals to 4-8 overall and 4-8 in the GLIAC.

Maddie Maloney led SVSU in scoring with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding a team-high six assists. Kaitlyn Zarycki finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double, while Ashley Buchholz added nine points off the bench, all on three 3-pointers.

The Cardinals shot 22-of-53 from the field, 8-of-26 from deep, and 6-of- 12 at the line, recording 15 assists, six steals, 20 turnovers, and outrebounding the Bulldogs 39-34.

DeShonna Day led Ferris State with 14 points, while Mallory McCartney added 10 points and eight rebounds.

The two teams conclude the weekend series at 4 pm Saturday in Big Rapids.