The No. 1-ranked Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team (20-0) closed out January with a statement, picking up two home victories. First, the team knocked off No. 12 Northern Michigan University (18-4) 70-47 in a defensive clinic Thursday, then closed the month with a 76-62 win over Michigan Tech University (12-8) Saturday. With the pair of wins, GVSU improved to 20-0 overall and 12-0 in conference play.
The matchup against Northern Michigan was different from their first meeting earlier this winter, as this one was dominated by the Lakers. The Wildcats matched the Lakers shot for shot in the opening minutes, tying the game at 10 midway through the first quarter.
Senior guard Avery Zeinstra knocked down a 3-pointer to spark an 11-4 run and senior guard Lexi Plitzuweit capped it with another triple, giving the Lakers a 21-14 edge after the first quarter. From there, the game’s tone shifted firmly in GVSU’s favor.
Sophomore forward Ava Scanlon made a clutch layup early in the second quarter to push the lead back to double digits, and ignited an 8-0 run. Northern Michigan found some offense late in the half, but the Lakers still headed into the locker room up 42-29.
The second half turned into a grind, with both defenses tightening and runs becoming harder to come by. When the score sat at 52-39 late in the third, senior guard Molly Anderson beat the buzzer with a deep 3-pointer.
The Wildcats made one last push early in the fourth, trimming the deficit to 12, but the response was immediate. GVSU rattled off an 11-0 run, scoring repeatedly in the paint and getting another 3-pointer from Plitzuweit to close out the 70-47 win.
Sophomore forward MacKenzie Bisballe led the way with 19 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Defensively, the Lakers were dominant, holding the Wildcats to just 23.7 percent shooting from the field and 13% from deep, while winning the rebounding battle 48-36.
That emphasis on rebounding carried over into Saturday’s game against Michigan Tech. The Lakers came out firing, opening the game with back-to-back threes from Anderson and senior guard Nicole Kamin. After the Huskies briefly cut the lead to four, GVSU answered with a 7-0 run, capped by a huge triple from Kamin. A late bucket from Plitzuweit put the Lakers up 11 at the end of the first quarter, and they never trailed.
Michigan Tech made one last run in the third quarter, pulling within six heading into the fourth. Once again, GVSU responded. Freshman guard Anayya Davis opened the final quarter with a three, igniting an 11-0 run that stretched the lead to 65-48 just four minutes in. The Lakers grew the margin to as many as 20 before closing out the 76-62 victory.
Kamin poured in 20 points, hitting four three-pointers, while Paige VanStee recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Bisballe added another double-double with 13 points and 11 boards, and Plitzuweit filled the stat sheet with 10 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. The Lakers once again controlled the glass, winning the rebounding battle 41-25.
Beyond the wins, the week was also marked by a milestone moment for VanStee, who scored her 1,000th career point Thursday. While the number itself is significant, her coach emphasized her impact goes well beyond scoring.
“Paige has been our energizer this year,” said head coach Mike Williams. “She’s very vocal, always communicating and celebrating her teammates’ success. She is one of our positive leaders and a great role model for the team.”
Rebounding, especially on the offensive end, continues to define GVSU’s identity as the season moves into February. Moving forward, the priorities for the team are clear.
“We need to get better at getting our eyes up and finishing around the rim,” Williams said. “We need to keep getting better at taking away shooters, because at our level, they make shots.”
As the month begins, GVSU looks as focused as ever. The Lakers will be back in action this Thursday in Hammond, Illinois, against Purdue Northwest University (3-16).
