With everything on the line, the final week of the regular season turned into a statement stretch for the No. 2 Grand Valley State University Lakers women’s basketball team (27-1).

After a win over Davenport University (7-21) Feb. 24, the Lakers improved to 26-1 overall and 18-1 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play, securing at least a share of the conference’s regular-season title. An outright championship remained within reach entering the Feb. 26 finale against No. 13 Ferris State University (24-5), where GVSU had the opportunity to clinch the title outright on its home court.

The Thursday matchup brought the excitement, as a packed Fieldhouse Arena crowd of 1,304 fans watched the Lakers deliver a dominant 70-44 victory over GLIAC rival Ferris State to secure the outright regular-season championship. By the final horn, nets were being cut down.

GVSU struck first, and it took nearly four minutes for the Bulldogs to get on the board as the Lakers jumped out to a commanding 12-2 lead. Head Coach Mike Williams emphasized afterward that establishing an interior presence was a priority from the opening tip.

“We think we’ve got good post players and guards who can post it up,” Williams said. “That was probably the number one mission.”

That mission paid off early. Senior forward Paige VanStee scored on back-to-back baskets in the paint midway through the first quarter, forcing a Ferris State timeout and energizing the home crowd. The Lakers’ ability to collapse the defense inside opened perimeter opportunities later, but the tone was set through physical finishes and relentless rebounding in the first half.

GVSU’s dominance on the boards and hustle for loose balls created extra possessions and wore down the Bulldogs. Even when Ferris State closed the first quarter with a 3-pointer, the momentum never shifted. A late 3-pointer ended a scoring drought in the second quarter, but by then the Lakers had already built a 20-point cushion.

“It’s physical, it always is,” VanStee said. “We love it, we love the competition. It’s one of the biggest games we get every year. We just try to stay calm and play our game.”

The physicality was evident throughout the contest, with even a flop warning issued as players hit the floor battling for position. Still, the Lakers never lost their composure. Instead, they answered every push with poise.

Late in the second quarter, sophomore forward Ava Scanlon delivered consecutive baskets to stretch the lead back to 20, sending the Lakers into halftime firmly in control.

The third quarter erased any lingering suspense about the outright GLIAC regular-season champion. Ferris State increased its shot volume in an attempt to climb back into the game, but the Lakers matched every run. Back-to-back 3-pointers from GVSU pushed the margin further, and by the two-minute mark of the third quarter, the lead had swelled to 30. The Bulldogs began fouling more frequently as frustration mounted. The Lakers entered the fourth quarter ahead, 60-30.

Williams credited his team’s response during the second half of the season for moments like this.

“We hit a little bit of a wall in the middle of the year,” said Williams. “I thought our choices to respond were good. We’re still getting better each day. The biggest thing is being more disciplined, and I think we’re improving in that area.”

With five minutes remaining, the Lakers began rotating deeper into the bench, though the intensity on the sideline never dipped. Coaches continued instructing, and players kept communicating. The standard remained, even with the outcome decided.

For senior guard Nicole Kamin, the opportunity to clinch the championship at home carried extra meaning, with GVSU losing just one home game during Kamin’s four-year career.

“It’s a cool opportunity to play at home,” Kamin said. “The fans, it’s such a fun environment. You practice on that court every day.”

The crowd reached its peak after the buzzer, as the Lakers, joined by President Philomena Mantella, climbed ladders and cut down the nets.

The Lakers look to carry the momentum into March as they host Lake Superior State University (8-20) in the GLIAC Tournament Wednesday, March 4.