A successful basketball team functions like a successful song. Every player on the court, like every note on a page of sheet music, has its place, and when strung together melodiously, a natural rhythm is synthesized.

The Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team traveled to Nashville, Tenn., the nation’s country music capital, over the weekend to open its season in the Pops Duncan Classic and test and tune its rhythm against stingy Great LakesValley Conference competition.

A song only a few beats into creation, a season just begun, the Lakers went 1-1 over the weekend and set a baseline from which to build upon.

“We have so much talent and so much depth, as well the smarts, the athleticism and all the other tools we need to be successful, but a lot of our kids are still so moldable,” senior guard Dani Crandall said. “It’s really exciting playing highly skilled and competitive teams like we saw this weekend and will continue to see this season, and I think our flexibility is going to work to our benefit, even though we’re still young.”

GVSU officially opened the 2013-2014 season Friday on a high note with a 81-68 victory over Truman State University. Sophomore guard Bailey Cairnduff netted eight of the Lakers’ first 10 points with a pair of three-pointers and free-throws, and she helped GVSU out to a 10-4 run.

“We always want to push the ball and keep our tempo fast, that’s our bread and butter,” junior point guard Meryl Cripe said. “When our offense is going, it keeps us moving and catches defenses off guard—it’s fun to play like that and watch.”

Truman State battled back to within one at the 12:26 mark before junior forward Kat LaPrarie helped to conduct another Laker crescendo, but the Bulldogs did not come closer than within five points of the Lakers the rest of the game. Junior Janelle McQueen extended the run with a transition layup at the 11-minute mark of the first half to make it 17-12 GVSU, and freshman guard Piper Tucker pushed the lead to 10 with two consecutive buckets down the floor.

“We really came out with purpose and a lot of kids contributed,” GVSU head coach Janel Burgess said. “I was excited to see how our newcomers performed, top to bottom, and I enjoyed that we had an attack mentality on both ends of the floor.”

The Lakers entered the half up 42-32, and with assistance from a bench that contributed 38 points and 16 rebounds, they led by as many as 20 points in the second half.

“Our flow the first half was great, and we didn’t miss a beat anytime we subbed,” Burgess said. “We had great contributions off the bench, which was a huge lift for us.”

Tucker led all scorers with 15 points, 13 of which came in the first 20 minutes of regulation, while LaPrairie (13), McQueen (12) and Cairnduff (11) joined her in double figures. Crandall was hampered by early foul trouble and was held to a single field-goal attempt, which she converted, but added four more points from the line, where GVSU was a collective 32 of 42 (.761).

“Having so many girls that can contribute in any given game is amazing and really helps to alleviate some pressure,” LaPrarie said. “You’re able to give 100 percent every time you’re out there on the floor, knowing that someone is ready to relieve you from the bench without a drop off.

GVSU returned to the Trevecca Nazarene University arena Saturday afternoon but was defeated 71-57 by the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

“Missouri-St. Louis hit some big shots early on that took the wind out of our sails, but it provided a lot of great lessons for us to learn on the first weekend of the season,” Burgess said. “I’m really excited to watch this young group bounce back.”

Trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half, the Lakers, down 32-24, took a stand over the final 3:32 with an 11-2 run. Crandall sparked the chord with a layup, Tucker added a pair of free throws, sophomore center Jill Steinmetz tripled, McQueen strung in two from the line, and Crandall capped the rift at the buzzer, as she had started it, with a layup to give GVSU a 35-34 halftime advantage.

“We were very upbeat at half,” Burgess said. “We had gotten ourselves into a big hole and dug ourselves back with some savvy play. One or two possessions the other way in the second half could have very easily flipped the energy back in the game.”

Just like a metronome ticking back, the momentum returned to UMSL with the score in the second half as the Tritons opened up a 50-37 lead off of a 16-2 opening run. Senior Hazaria Washington finished the game 8 of 8 from the free throw line and netted nine of her 14 points during the run. USML was 18 of 19 from the line as a team.

“We came out in the second half with two great stops back to back with a turnover in-between, but unfortunately, I think youthfulness was revealed at that point,” Burgess said. “We still cut into the lead, had a couple opportunities to cut it more, but ultimately didn’t make the plays we needed to win.”

The Lakers again attempted to dig their way back as they had in the first half and managed to close within six after Crandall buried a jumper to end a 9-2 GVSU run with 8:42 to play. Crandall played 36 minutes and finished with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field to go with six rebounds and a team-high four assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.

Senior Jessica Zavoral led USML with 19 points, while fellow senior Devonna Smith added 13 as USML quickly pushed a 52-46 lead back to double-digits. GVSU was held to 22 points in the final 20 minutes of play on 32.1 percent shooting.

“It comes down to one simple concept, and that’s finishing,” Burgess said. “We need to finish. Not only in the half, but also on a smaller level, each possession.”

Both squads hauled down 36 rebounds a piece, although the Tritons outshot the Lakers from the field in the game 43.6 percent to 35.7 percent. Zavoral and senior Alyssa Like each tallied six rebounds for USML, while Steinmetz led GVSU with seven boards to go with 11 points.

The Lakers will host their home opener against the No. 10 ranked Lewis University Flyers (1-2), GVSU’s third in-region opponent in eight days, on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. with a tune to carry and a rhythm in mind.

“We have a lot of growing to do, but I’m excited to see us continue to grow,” Burgess said. “This is a tough schedule. We knew it was going to be tough, but I also knew it was going to make us better when we needed to be, which is really every single game.”

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