The No. 2 ranked Grand Valley State University Lakers women’s basketball team returned to the Fieldhouse Arena for their last two home games of the season this week as they took on the No.10 ranked Ferris State University Bulldogs and the one-win Lake Superior State University.
The Bulldogs were the last team to defeat the Lakers, doing so 71-65 on Jan. 20. In this rematch, GVSU was able to get revenge in a 63-38 blowout victory on Thursday, Feb. 22. Then, on Saturday, Feb. 24, the Lakers beat LSSU in a dominant 100-48 win.
With those two victories, GVSU extended their winning streak to nine games in a row and improved their record to 24-2 overall and to 15-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
It was a raucous home crowd for the Lakers of over 1,000 fans, and the energy helped GVSU to start the game off by forcing several shot clock violations and an 11-2 start.
This was thanks to made 3-pointers from redshirt sophomore guards Molly Anderson and Paige Vanstee.
Ferris State was forced to call a timeout, but responded back with a 7-2 run of their own to cut the lead to four. The Lakers closed out the first quarter up 17-11.
Both teams struggled with scoring efficiency as they shot just 35% from the field with back-and-forth scoring. The big factor for the Lakers to close the first half was Vanstee scoring eight points in the second quarter. Vanstee scored in a variety of ways, including getting to the free throw line. In the half, the Lakers shot eight for eight on free throws to maintain their 35-27 lead at halftime.
The second half was in complete control of the Lakers, using shut-down defense to force 22 Ferris State turnovers for the game and scoring 16 points off of those turnovers. GVSU only allowed 11 points in the second half on 34% from the field. Ferris State’s three leading scorers were held to just 5 for 23 shooting from the field for a total of just 14 points.
With such a strong second half effort, the Lakers were able to avenge their loss to Ferris State the previous month and walk away with the victory in hand, 63-38.
GVSU head coach Mike Williams was happy with his team’s overall performance against the Bulldogs.
“We made some shots and they didn’t,” Williams said. “I thought we did a good job of attacking the glass and taking care of the basketball.”
Vanstee led the team in scoring off the bench with 17 points and had four steals, while junior forward Rylie Bisballe followed right behind her with a near double-double of 12 points and nine rebounds. Vanstee pointed to her teammates as the main reason she had a big performance.
“I mean, it feels good. I don’t really know what to say about it just because it’s my teammates that are finding me on those cuts to the basket and they see me when I run the floor,” Vanstee said. “I’m just trying to just do what I can to help the team out there and numbers can say what they want, but I think it’s just my team that really helps me out when it comes to scoring around the rim.”
After the 25-point win over their rival and the second ranked team in the conference, GVSU faced LSSU on Saturday, Feb. 24. LSSU is currently ranked last in the GLIAC standings, and it showed as the Lakers were able to take complete control of the game with their defense and size.
GVSU proved to be an overpowering matchup for LSSU. They grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and forced 28 turnovers, while also adding a monster 26 assists in a 100 point win.
It was a team effort in the scoring department as all 11 players that saw action contributed to their third highest scoring margin of the season. Bisballe led the way with 22 points, while freshman center Ava Scanlon added a career high 16 points from the bench.
Anderson also had a career high, but in assists, with a near double-double of 10 points and nine assists.
“As soon as I get the ball like in the back corner (I am) just pushing it and having my eyes up and looking for whoever’s open,” Anderson said. “Coach Mike is always telling us to hunt shots and that’s what we tried to really do.”
Williams was happy with how his team performed in the second half of the team’s final home game of the regular season.
“I thought the second half we locked in. Did a better job getting the space on the shots and we tried to balance those screens a little better and not let them get downhill on penetration,” Williams said. “We got to get a little better in some areas, but we did a good job.”
GVSU looks to continue their win streak on the road in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as the Lakers will take on Northern Michigan University on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 5:30 p.m. and Michigan Technological University on Saturday, March 2 at 12 p.m. The GLIAC tournament will then begin on Wednesday, March 6 with a home game for the Lakers.
