The No. 3-ranked Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team (23-1) earned back-to-back home wins, defeating Roosevelt University (7-16) Thursday before closing the weekend with a Pink Out victory against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (12-12) Saturday.
The two wins helped GVSU reclaim its winning spirit after last week’s loss to Wayne State University, showcasing its defensive intensity, depth and composure while strengthening its position in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.
Thursday’s matchup against Roosevelt was competitive early on, as both teams worked to establish rhythm. Sophomore forward MacKenzie Bisballe opened the scoring inside, and the Lakers built an early lead behind defensive pressure.
Roosevelt responded with timely 3-point shooting and kept the game within one possession through much of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Roosevelt tied the game at 19 by capitalizing on a few Laker turnovers.
The Lakers answered with a momentum-building run midway through the period. Bisballe knocked down a 3-pointer and added consecutive transition finishes to help GVSU regain control. The defense tightened late in the half as the Lakers took a 33-27 lead into the break.
Coming out of halftime, GVSU extended the margin by controlling the boards and limiting Roosevelt’s second-chance opportunities. Senior guard Paige VanStee attacked the rim, pushing the lead into double digits. Although Roosevelt made a brief, third-quarter push to trim the deficit to single digits, senior guard Lexi Plitzuweit replied with a 3-pointer and contributed to back-to-back defensive stops to reestablish momentum.
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers converted turnovers into points and steadily pulled away to secure an 80-56 win. Bisballe led the way with a season-high 22 points.
Saturday’s Pink Out game against Parkside brought energy inside the arena, and the Lakers again emphasized defense from the opening tip. Bisballe scored early in the paint, while GVSU forced multiple turnovers in the first few minutes.
Parkside briefly took the lead after connecting from 3-point range, but the Lakers remained composed.
“Basketball is a game of runs and a game of stretches,” VanStee said. “No matter if we’re down or they’re going on a stretch, we just stay calm.”
Throughout the first half, GVSU rotated players consistently to maintain pressure. Each time Parkside cut into the lead, the Lakers fought back with a basket or a defensive stop. VanStee provided a steady defensive presence, and her timely steals led to fast-break opportunities.
“As long as we keep our composure, we know that we can score and get stops on the defensive end,” VanStee said.
The Lakers pulled away in the second half and cruised to a 74-56 victory in front of the home crowd. After the game, the focus remained on the team’s defensive effort and composure.
“I thought we had pretty good intensity defensively,” said head coach Mike Williams. “Our hands were more active than they’ve been in previous games. I thought our press got us some runouts, and we pushed the ball.”
VanStee echoed that sentiment, pointing to the team’s ability to stay connected.
“We knew they were going to make runs,” VanStee said. “Our biggest thing was staying together and responding every time. I think we did a good job of that.”
The team also emphasized the importance of depth in sustaining energy across four quarters.
“We trust everyone who steps on the floor,” VanStee added. “That allows us to keep the pressure up and play our style the whole game.”
By the end of the weekend, the Lakers had secured two GLIAC wins built on balanced attacks and consistent execution, putting last week’s loss firmly in the rearview.
The Lakers return to action Thursday on the road against Saginaw Valley State University (5-19) at 5:30 p.m.
