The Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team put on a rebounding clinic in their season opener, but that wasn’t enough to stop Saint Joseph College.

The Lakers, who fell to the Pumas 66-47, struggled from the get go on Sunday, shooting 29 percent from the floor and 50 percent from the foul line.

“Overall, I think it was just a lack of focus,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess. “Our team needs to play a 40-minute game. As seasoned as we are, we need to be able to persevere through any situation and be able to find a way to be successful.”

Despite their shooting woes, GVSU used strong rebounding on both sides of the floor to cut Saint Joseph’s lead from double digits down to five at the half.

“We rebounded very well,” said Burgess. “The problem is if we rebounded as well as we did, we should be able to convert and I don’t think we did that.”

Throughout the contest the Lakers (0-1, 0-0), out-rebounded the Puma’s (1-0, 0-0) 53-34.

However, turnovers and fouls prevented the Lakers from developing an offensive rhythm and delivering the ball inside to junior center Alex Stelfox.

“The turnovers were really atrocious, 24 turnovers to eight assists, I don’t think we were making good decisions,” said Burgess. “We were leading teammates into turnovers themselves, not being strong with the ball going at the basket. We need to be able to protect each other and be able to be disciplined with what we are trying to find.”

While Stelfox was held scoreless in the opening half, juniors Brittany and Briauna Taylor combined for 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead GVSU at the break.

“I was just trying to do what I could to get a better outcome for us and finish some possessions,” said forward Brittany Taylor.

Coming out of the locker room, the Lakers got solid looks at the basket and went to the free-throw line 17 times, but still struggled to score.

“We will look at a handful of our shots and think that they were crazy, maybe quick shots or what not, but for the most part our opportunities were good,” said Burgess. “I think there were more opportunities that we should have took at first look as opposed to making an extra pass that created a turnover.”

Forward Briauna Taylor said this loss will serve as a learning experience and motivation to work hard in practice to take better care of the ball and take more efficient shots when they are available.

“We just need to take the pressure for what it is,” she said. “They were pressuring us, but we just need to calm down because we know what we need to do.”

The Lakers will open up their home schedule on Nov. 22 when they face Aquinas College at 7.pm.

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