SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Saginaw Valley (Mich.) State Cardinals got a big push in the second half to overcome a 12-point halftime deficit and down the Truman Bulldogs 77-72 on Wednesday afternoon at the O'Reilly Family Events Center on the campus of Drury University.

Truman (2-4) took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 22-10, including a 6-0 run with Maddie Re and Ellie Weltha each pouring in seven points each. The Bulldogs were 7-of-16 from the field and 7-of-7 from the foul line but a 1-for-7 mark from outside kept Truman from extending their lead further in the half.

Weltha's outback with 1:47 left in the third gave Truman a 56-49 advantage and Hannah Pinkston's basket with 7:01 to play put the Bulldogs up 10 (64-54). 

Zarycki's three-pointer with 3:45 remaining brought the Cardinals all the way back to knot things up at 67 and her basket following a turnover capped a 15-3 run that put Saginaw on top 69-67.

Hannah Belanger tied things back up off a pass from Re with 2:11 showing.

However on the next possession for Saginaw Valley, Zarycki drew her ninth foul of the game and converted the foul shots for points 38 and 39 to put the Cardinals back on top, 71-69.

Belanger drew a foul at the other end but uncharacteristically missed both free throws.

With the shot clock draining out, Maloney made a clutch shot outside the paint to put SVSU up by four with 40 seconds left.

Belanger would get two of them back with a hoop and out of a timeout fouled Maloney again. She would hit them both to extend the lead back to four with 28 seconds remaining.

After another timeout, Belanger missed from distance but Katey Klucking gathered in the offensive board and drew a foul. She would go 1-of-2 to make it 75-72.

Maloney would be fouled again and capped off her 20-point game with two more makes at the line with six seconds left to provide the final score of 77-72.

Zarycki's 39 points, with 17 coming in the fourth quarter, was the most by an opposing player since Jill Johnson scored 39 for Missouri Western against Truman in 2008. It ties for the third most by an opposing player joining also Tara Holloway (Emporia State-1999) and Kelly Leintz (Northwest Missouri-1988). Jacquie Rzeszut holds the single-game record of 45 by Missouri Southern in 2003 followed by Debra Williams 41 for Lincoln in 1995.

She finished the game 14-of-20 from the field with three triples and 8-of-8 at the line. The Cardinals (5-2) would make 10-of-20 shots from range and all 15 free throw attempts.

Weltha finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds for another double-double. Belanger added 13 and six assists, Klucking 12 and Re 11. Truman shot 48% for the game but against struggled from three going 4-of-17.

Truman will host Upper Iowa in their home opener on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Pershing Arena. Fans will be allowed to attend but masks are required in all Truman State buildings, including Pershing.