The No. 1-ranked Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team (15-0) took on the Davenport Panthers (4-12), securing a 78-57 victory, charged by a second-half display of dominance.
Davenport came out swinging against the top-ranked and undefeated Lakers, leading the game with a 6-0 run until the first Lakers’ basket was made nearly four minutes into the quarter. GVSU, showing strength on both sides of the ball, then went on an 11-0 scoring streak, taking a five-point lead with 4:41 left on the clock in the first. The Lakers ended the quarter with a 23-16 lead, aided by shooting 11 free throws, alongside forcing 12 Panther turnovers thanks to the Lakers’ full-court pressure, which led to errant passes and GVSU buckets.
Similar to the first quarter, Davenport shut down the Lakers’ offense and clawed their way back into the game, making the score 32-20 with 3:23 left before the end of the first half.
Having dealt with the adversity Davenport presented in the first half, GVSU remained determined to continue their authoritative season.
“Staying the course, staying positive (and) keeping the energy helped carry us through the second half,” said freshman guard Avery Lay.
Trading baskets for the rest of the quarter, GVSU held a small lead heading into halftime. Despite both teams shooting 50% from the field in the second quarter, Davenport’s extra six shot attempts and three successful shots brought the score to within three points of the Lakers’ lead. Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, redshirt senior forward Paige VanStee, maintained dominance throughout the first half, tallying a team-high 10 points to help the Lakers hold their slight lead over the Panthers.
VanStee opened the second half with a bucket in the post, a sign of things to come for the Laker offense in the third quarter. Paired with GVSU’s suffocating defense, the Lakers grew their lead to 10 points with just under four minutes to play in the third period.
Redshirt senior guard Nicole Kamin played a huge role in the eventual 17-point third-quarter lead by coming down with crucial rebounds. She set up her teammates while getting the offense back into a rhythm, and scoring the rock herself. Driving deep into the heart of the Panthers’ defense, the Laker offense opened better shot opportunities than in the first half.
“We kind of stood around and watched one driver,” said head coach Mike Williams. “We started to get some touches down on the block and get some baskets that way.”
The Laker defense tightened up in the third, clamping down on the Davenport offense in the half-court, allowing only eight points in the entire 10-minute quarter. Controlling both ends of the floor deep into the fourth quarter and cruising on offense, GVSU only allowed four successful field-goal attempts to the Panthers for the entire second half until the game was already out of reach. When the final buzzer sounded, the Lakers secured the 78-57 victory, their 28th consecutive win dating back to last season.
VanStee led all scorers with 20 points and six rebounds, with Kamin tallying an additional 14 points and seven boards. Senior guard Avery Zeinstra led both teams with a +23 in plus-minus, while Lay chipped in 12 points and four rebounds.
The top-ranked Lakers will start a three-game road trip with a matchup against Ferris State University (13-3) Monday, Jan. 19 to duel in another iteration of the Anchor-Bone Classic.
