The No. 3 Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team (26-1) earned a 68-42 road victory over the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals (6-20) in the annual “Battle of the Valleys” matchup, followed by an 87-40 win over Lake Superior State University (7-19).
Only a couple of weeks after the team’s first loss of the season, the two victories helped the Lakers rebuild confidence and secure their place on the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference scoreboard.
Thursday, against Saginaw Valley State University, redshirt-senior guard Paige VanStee opened the scoring with a layup, giving GVSU an early 2-0 lead. The Lakers followed with a 9-0 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from VanStee. Saginaw Valley responded with a surge of its own, tying the game at 9-9 after a 3-point shot with 3:22 left in the quarter.
GVSU quickly reclaimed control when redshirt-senior guard Lexi Plitzuweit knocked down a 3-pointer off an assist from redshirt-senior guard Nicole Kamin. VanStee later added two free throws to help the Lakers close the opening quarter ahead, 14-9.
The Lakers continued to build momentum in the second quarter. With 5:06 left before halftime, VanStee connected on her second 3-pointer of the game, once again assisted by Kamin, extending the lead to 19-11. Senior guard Avery Zeinstra joined the scoring run with a 3-pointer of her own, assisted by VanStee, pushing the advantage to 25-11. VanStee capped off the half with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, sending GVSU into halftime with a 32-17 lead. VanStee also led all scorers at the break and finished the first half 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Saginaw Valley struck first in the second half with a layup, trimming the deficit to 32-19. The Lakers responded midway through the quarter when redshirt-senior guard Molly Anderson drained her first 3-pointer of the game, extending GVSU’s lead to 39-25. The Lakers maintained control throughout the frame and carried a 45-31 advantage into the fourth quarter.
GVSU continued to pull away in the final period. Anderson buried her second 3-pointer of the game, pushing the lead to 52-33. With 46 seconds left, a basket by a redshirt-freshman guard Tayla Dillard extended the margin to 27 points, giving the Lakers a 68-41 lead. GVSU closed out the contest with a 68-42 victory.
VanStee finished the game 9-for-15 from the field, while the Lakers capitalized on 27 Saginaw Valley turnovers, scoring 37 points off those miscues. After the game, VanStee reflected on her offensive performance.
“I’m focused on doing my best and hustling on both ends of the floor,” VanStee said. “Saginaw was a game where my hustle showed through more on the offensive end.”
Saturday, the Lakers returned to action in Sault Ste. Marie, where they dominated Lake Superior State with an 87-40 blowout win.
GVSU set the tone early as Kamin opened the game with a 3-pointer, assisted by Anderson, for a 3-0 lead. Kamin followed with a fast-break 3-pointer, this time assisted by Plitzuweit, extending the advantage to 11-0. The Lakers continued to overwhelm Lake Superior State, putting together a 20-0 scoring run. With 2:01 remaining in the quarter, VanStee hit a 3-pointer off a Kamin assist to make it 28-4. GVSU closed the opening quarter ahead, 33-10.
Despite finishing just 3-for-7 from the field with one 3-pointer, VanStee praised Kamin’s early impact.
“Nicole Kamin is battling through an injury, so it was good to see her hit those 3s early in the game,” VanStee said.
In the second quarter, sophomore forward MacKenzie Bisballe scored her first points after going scoreless and shooting 0-for-7 against Saginaw Valley. Bisballe knocked down a 3-pointer, assisted by Zeinstra, that extended the Lakers’ lead to 36-10. GVSU carried a commanding 50-21 advantage into halftime.
The Lakers kept their foot on the gas in the third quarter. Zeinstra opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, assisted by Plitzuweit. Later in the quarter, with GVSU ahead by 39, redshirt-sophomore guard/forward Lauren Slagle connected on a 3-pointer off a pass from freshman guard Jordyn Bonnema, extending the lead to 66-27 with 1:20 remaining.
GVSU entered the fourth quarter up 67-29. In the final frame, the Lakers continued their dominance on both ends of the floor, building their largest lead of the game at 47 points. Bonnema sealed the scoring with a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left, as GVSU secured the 87-40 victory.
Up next, the Lakers will travel to Grand Rapids Tuesday to face cross-town rival Davenport University (7-19) in their final road game of the season. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
