For the second time in program history, Grand Valley State University’s women’s basketball team won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) National Championship. Making history on Friday, March 28, the Lakers achieved the highest honor in Division II women’s college basketball. The last time GVSU went to the championship was in 2006.

The Lakers began their championship journey on Monday, March 24 by competing in the NCAA Elite Eight against Gannon University. This was the third time in the last 10 seasons that the Lakers competed in the Elite Eight, and the third time advancing to the Final Four after defeating Gannon, 60-32. With a day’s rest, the Lakers took the Final Four win, 68-61, against Pittsburgh State on Wednesday, March 26 after a hard-fought, nail-biting match up.

After spending time in Pittsburgh adapting to the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse court, the Lakers found themselves in the final championship game against California State University, Dominguez Hills. In support of the big game, Laker Nation took over the fieldhouse, as GVSU supplied transportation for students, the marching band, cheerleaders and family. Additionally, other University athletic groups, such as the football and women’s volleyball teams, shared various posts of support and encouragement on Instagram.

“The support (from Laker Nation) has been like no other, and they truly love being there to support us,” said redshirt senior guard Ellie Droste. “Having them at the game on Friday was a game changer. I truly think they shifted the momentum of that game and were able to get in the other team’s head a bit.”

By 7 p.m. on Friday, reality was setting in. Despite the Lakers’ 38-2 record this year, which is also the most single season wins in program history, the championship game was the ultimate test.

To read more from Tori Byrne on this historic victory, click here.

GV track and field shatters records at home meet

The Grand Valley State University track and field teams competed in their first outdoor home meet of the season from Friday, April 4 to Saturday, April 5. There were plenty of notable moments from the weekend, none bigger than school records being broken.

The meet kicked off with sprints and hurdles, where GVSU saw plenty of success. In the 110m, two men and three women for the Lakers qualified for finals. In the finals, senior Ethan Smith finished first with a time of 14.60. For the women, all three runners finished in the top five. Junior Destini Dorkins led the way by running a 14.35, beating her personal record.

In the 100m, GVSU had five men and three women competing in the finals. Graduate student Myles Rhodes led the way for the men with a first place finish. Rhodes ran a 10.48, which tied his personal record. Second and third place also belonged to the Lakers, thanks to freshmen Jacob Machiniak and Desmond Chapa, respectively.

Women’s first, second and third place all belonged to the Lakers. Freshman Claire Neumann ran a personal best, which placed her first. Sophomore Catherine Guckenberger placed second and senior Melia Williams rounded it out at third.

Click here to read more from Griffin Missant on this first meet for the outdoor track and field season.

GV swim and dive secures first win of the semester

On Saturday, Jan. 11, Grand Valley State University’s swim and dive team competed against the Wayne State University Warriors at home. The Lakers came out on top, with leading scores in both the men’s and women’s divisions. The final score for the women was 215 to the Warriors’ 84, in addition to the men’s lead of 207 to 93.

The Lakers had standout performances across the board. Sophomore diver Macy Polasek displayed skill in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. In the 1-meter, Polasek came in first, which awarded nine points to the Lakers’ final score. During the 3-meter event, Polasek attempted a new dive, securing her third place in the event.

“Macy Polasek’s forward 3 ½ somersault is a new dive and she performed it very well,” said Steve Burciaga, both the men’s and women’s diving head coach.

In addition to strong diving performances, the women had other notable accomplishments in the pool– the 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay. The Lakers triumphed in both events, securing a combined 22 points toward the team’s final score.

To read more from Arianna Westbrooks on the swim and dive team’s victory against Wayne State, click here.

GV women’s wrestling debuts at home against Northern Michigan

In front of a packed crowd at the Fieldhouse Arena, the Grand Valley State University women’s wrestling team debuted their inaugural dual against Northern

Michigan University, dominating their way to a win, 42-6.

Kicking things off for the Lakers was 160-pound junior Clarissa Agostini. She quickly scored her first points with a takedown over Sophia Bassino from NMU. Agostini maintained her early lead into the second period, where she scored four points from a takedown that resulted in her opponent being controlled on their back. Another quick takedown put Agostini up by 10 points, giving her the win by technical fall, 14-4.

Following GVSU scoring their first official points, 180-pound freshman Sabrina Nauss used her overpowering strength to quickly pin her opponent in only one minute and 40 seconds.

Off to a good start, 207-pound freshman Aaliyah Grandberry took the mat next for the Lakers. A strong first period put Grandberry up 7-0, but a quick pin by her opponent gave the Wildcats their only points of the duel. 103-pound junior Rayana Sahagun received an easy, automatic win for GVSU, as Northern Michigan then forfeited the match.

Click here to read more from Brady Kemmerling on the debut of the new women’s wrestling program.

The Lakers began their championship journey on Monday, March 24 by competing in the NCAA Elite Eight against Gannon University. This was the third time in the last 10 seasons that the Lakers competed in the Elite Eight, and the third time advancing to the Final Four after defeating Gannon, 60-32. With a day’s rest, the Lakers took the Final Four win, 68-61, against Pittsburgh State on Wednesday, March 26 after a hard-fought, nail-biting match up. 

After spending time in Pittsburgh adapting to the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse court, the Lakers found themselves in the final championship game against California State University, Dominguez Hills. In support of the big game, Laker Nation took over the fieldhouse, as GVSU supplied transportation for students, the marching band, cheerleaders and family. Additionally, other University athletic groups, such as the football and women’s volleyball teams, shared various posts of support and encouragement on Instagram.

“The support (from Laker Nation) has been like no other, and they truly love being there to support us,” said redshirt senior guard Ellie Droste. “Having them at the game on Friday was a game changer. I truly think they shifted the momentum of that game and were able to get in the other team’s head a bit.” 

By 7 p.m. on Friday, reality was setting in. Despite the Lakers’ 38-2 record this year, which is also the most single season wins in program history, the championship game was the ultimate test. 

The Lakers and Toros met at center court for the first time with high anticipation. Redshirt senior forward Rylie Bisballe produced the first two points of the game with a strong layup in the paint. In retaliation, the Toros went on a seven-point streak just four minutes into play. The Lakers settled into the play style and reciprocated a seven-point run, five of which were from Droste, putting the Lakers in the lead, 9-7. With less than three minutes left in the first quarter, the score was tied 11 all, until the Lakers pushed a late, 6-1 run, ending the quarter 17-12. 

Entering the second quarter, the Lakers capitalized on the first quarter’s late momentum by going on a 9-1 hot streak. In that run, the Toros made three turnovers and two missed plays, allowing the Lakers to maximize their control. The score gap reached a high of 19 points at 38-19. With a minute to play, the Toros made the last bucket of the first half, leaving the score 38-21. 

In a highly anticipated game, the Lakers were composed and used the pressure to their advantage. 

“This championship game was an accumulation of four years of preparation, and our coaches did a really good job of preparing us this season by playing many nationally ranked teams,” said senior guard Abrie Cabana. “We knew we were prepared and capable of winning. We just went out and treated it (the game) like every other game.” 

Coming out of the half, the Lakers’ rhythm on the offensive side of the ball continued, as they went on another 9-0 run. Six of the nine points were three-pointers produced by redshirt junior guard Molly Anderson and freshman guard MacKenzie Bisballe. The Toros were determined to stay in the game by pressuring the offensive zone, going on a 17-6 run and only trailing 53-38 at the end of the third quarter. 

In the first five minutes of play, the Toros were able to close the gap to 12 points. Each team made strategic substitutions, and GVSU demonstrated the whole team’s strength. Droste feels the student-athlete’s depth this season has impacted their successes.

“I think our experience and depth has made this team so different from previous seasons,” said Droste. “We have people coming off the bench that can pick up right where the previous people left off.” 

In a team effort, the Lakers fought to maintain their lead, but the Toros wouldn’t back down. The Toros went on a 13-6 run to get within 10 points of the Lakers, but it wasn’t enough. Droste and Cabana were tested at the free-throw line, and both sunk two each to ice the game away with a final score of 70-58. 

As the final buzzer released, confetti decorated the floor, and the crowd roared. Upon hearing the buzzer, Cabana said she felt a variety of emotions all at once.

“Honestly, I was feeling all of the different emotions,” said Cabana. “I felt proud, grateful, fulfilled, overwhelmed, and it was definitely bittersweet.” 

On top of the Lakers’ main win, they earned many titles and career highs. Rylie Bisballe received Tournament MVP and scored 13 points with three assists and three steals. MacKenzie Bisballe earned All-Tournament Team honors with a team-high of 14 points, two blocks and two steals. Redshirt junior guard Nicole Kamin was named to the All-Tournament Team with six boards, three assists, three points, and two steals. 

The Lakers’ five seniors Rylie Bisballe, Hadley Miller, Droste, Cabana, and Kathryn Schmidt will end their careers with 145 wins, which is the most of any graduating class. The seniors have accomplished four regular season GLIAC titles, three GLIAC tournament titles, two Midwest Regional Championships and now a National Championship title.

As a senior, Cabana touched on what winning a national championship means to her. 

“It (winning the NCAA National Championship) definitely means everything,” Cabana said. “I know this is a dream come true for all of us. It honestly feels so surreal, but at the same time, makes so much sense because of all the hard work and dedication we have each put in.” 

Reflecting on her career, Droste commented on what she would say to her freshman self. 

“I would just say how lucky I am to have been recruited by such a great program,” Droste said. “(I would also say) to soak up every minute because it will fly by.”

The home game naturally brought pressure of its own, however, with over a thousand spectators in the stands, the energy was palpable. Redshirt senior Rylie Bisballe remarked that the stands “were packed.”

Both teams took a few minutes to settle in. In the first quarter’s five minutes, both universities each made a field goal. The other half of this quarter saw back-and-forth shot-making. GVSU went on a seven-to-three scoring run before the end of the opening quarter. This resulted in the University having an 11-9 lead at the close of the quarter.

The second quarter was the Lakers’ highest scoring quarter of the game. GVSU really started to show off their strength and size in this quarter. Eight of the Lakers’ baskets came from inside the paint. Only two points came from outside the paint, with the basket having been thrown at the free throw line. Not only that, GVSU was scoring extremely efficiently. To go along with the highest scoring quarter, the Lakers shot 47% from the field. The Lakers held a double-digit lead multiple times in the second quarter. However, just before halftime, Ashland was able to go on a quick, 4-0 run. Despite this run, GVSU still led at the break. The scoreboard read 29-26.

Coming out of the half, GVSU’s rhythm on the offensive side of the ball continued. The Lakers were consistently able to keep Ashland at a comfortable distance. After the dominant second quarter, Ashland started to get more aggressive with their defense in the paint. This led to more free-throw attempts than the first two quarters combined for the Lakers. GVSU went to the charity stripe six times, and knocked all six down. 

The Lakers had another good scoring quarter in the third, largely led by redshirt junior guard Paige Vanstee. Out of the Lakers’ 17 points in the third quarter, Vanstee scored eight points.

Toward the end, Ashland began to chip away at GVSU’s lead. The closing quarter saw the game get as close as five points. However, the Lakers were able to extend the lead right back to double digits. GVSU beat Ashland 62-50, and advanced to the Elite Eight.

The Lakers’ depth played a huge factor in this ball game. The University boasted five players in double figures, while on the other hand, Ashland only had one player.

“It (the game) was a really fun atmosphere to play in,” Bisballe said.

Redshirt junior Nicole Kamin agreed, adding that the ball game was nothing like she’s seen this season.

“The environment was great (and) the fans were awesome,” Kamin said.

The road to the championship title won’t get any easier for GVSU. Up next, the Lakers will travel to UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There, the Lakers will battle with the eighth-ranked Gannon University for a spot in the Final Four. These two programs don’t play each other often. The last time GVSU and Gannon faced off was a decade ago, in 2015– the same year that Mike Williams started coaching the Lakers.

The matchup will take place on Monday, March 24, and the tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

On Thursday, the Lakers took to their home court against the Warriors in matching pink sneakers and socks to commemorate their annual PINK Game to support cancer research efforts. As soon as the clock started, GVSU got the jump on the Warriors with Laker Kathryn Schmidt bolting into the paint and sinking a layup for the Lakers. GVSU continued to score two more back-to-back layups, taking an early 6-0 lead against WSU. The Warriors retaliated with a 3-pointer from Alyssa Leister. However, the Lakers refused to give up control and matched the Warriors with another 3-pointer by Abrie Cabana.

Throughout the duration of the game’s first quarter, the Warriors played catch-up with the Lakers. Whenever WSU got close to tying, GVSU doubled down offensively, closing the door on the Warriors. By the end of the quarter, GVSU was up by five points, 27-22.

Only three seconds into the second quarter, Rylie Bisballe was already to the net with a layup for the Lakers. Just moments later, Rylie Bisballe was back in the paint, driving another one into the basket. Six minutes in, Cabana sank a 3-pointer, marking a 13-point lead for the Lakers. WSU began to gain some momentum, as Gabi Lutchka drilled a 3-pointer for the Warriors, which was followed by a layup and another 3-pointer. 

Just as the Warriors began to catch up, the Lakers were awarded free throws, cutting their momentum short. With Ellie Droste behind the line for the Lakers, she was off the mark for the first. Quickly regaining her composure, she calmly sank the second with ease. Following Droste’s free throw, Cabana wasted no time getting to the basket, leaving WSU’s defense scrambling as she made a fast-break layup. By the end of the quarter, GVSU managed to keep a tight hold on their lead with a 46-39 score.

Coming back from halftime, the Lakers dominated the third quarter. Schmidt set the quarter’s tone, making a 3-pointer with pinpoint accuracy. GVSU kept their momentum going through the quarter, with MacKenzie Bisballe slicing through WSU’s defense to sink a layup, bringing the Lakers’ lead to 10 points. The Lakers closed out the quarter with a 16-point lead and a score of 67-51.

In the final quarter, the Lakers were unstoppable. Starting off the quarter, the Warriors fouled the Lakers, awarding GVSU free throws. Once again, Droste was back behind the line. This time, she made both shots with ease. WSU fought hard to bridge the gap, cutting GVSU’s lead to 11 points. However, the Lakers refused to let up, and closed the door on the Warriors. With a minute and a half left on the clock, MacKenzie Bisballe made a layup, bringing the Lakers to a 21-point lead. Refusing to give up without a fight, Lutchka drilled a 3-pointer from downtown, bringing GVSU’s lead down to 18, and closing out the game, 85-67. 

The Lakers’ victory over WSU secured them the GLIAC regular season championship title and earned them the number one title in their seed. Following their victory against the Warriors, the Lakers faced off against SVSU on Saturday in the Battle of the Valleys.

The Lakers started strong against the Cardinals with an early nine-point lead. From there, the Lakers were able to stretch their lead to 14 points from a 3-pointer and layup by Droste and Paige Vanstee. Both teams continued to fight for momentum until the end of the quarter. GVSU led by 12 points, heading into the second with the score of 24-12.

The Cardinals started off the second quarter with renewed vigor. Scoring seven consecutive points from the start, the Cardinals were able to slice the Lakers’ lead down to five points. The Lakers quickly regained control of the quarter with a layup and two, back-to-back free throws, bringing their lead down to 10 points. By the end of the quarter, the Lakers were up 15 points, 42-27.

After halftime, the Lakers left the Cardinals in the dust with a commanding 29-point lead by the end of the quarter.

GVSU continued to apply pressure onto the Cardinals’ defense, leaving them scrambling to catch up. Molly Anderson barreled a quick 3-pointer into the basket from downtown, bringing the score to 51-27. With one minute left on the clock, the Lakers were able to dish out two more 3-pointers from Cabana and Droste, finishing out the game with a final score of 66-39.

During the game, Rylie Bisballe reached 1,500 career points, becoming the seventh player in GVSU program history to ever do so.

“I think today’s win was a team effort,” said Rylie Bisballe. “We have definitely been trying to help each other more, especially in the defensive end. We need to continue being confident and consistent heading into the next two games and the GLIAC tournament.”

In less than a month, the GLIAC Tournament is set to begin on Wednesday, March 5.​​ The Lakers are set to enter the tournament as the top seed, following their regular season championship title.

“GLIAC is a tough conference and we respect every team, so playing our game to our (best) ability will help us a lot,” said Vanstee.

From the start, the Lakers dominated the Bulldogs, closing out the first quarter with a commanding 26-4 lead. As soon as the clock started, the Lakers took off, with senior Abrie Cabana sinking a 3-pointer. Ferris responded with a jump shot by Mya Hiram in the paint, making up two of the only four points the Bulldogs scored during the quarter.

After Hiram’s point, the Lakers were unstoppable. With back-to-back points, Ferris couldn’t keep up with the Lakers’ offensive machine. For the remainder of the quarter, the Lakers scored 23 more points, while the Bulldogs were only able to add two points to their side of the scoreboard. These two points from the Bulldogs came with only 40 seconds left in the quarter.

The second quarter began with a battle of defense. The first point wasn’t scored until two minutes into the quarter. GVSU redshirt senior Rylie Bisballe was hot on the paint with a layup, which was followed by a 3-pointer from freshman MacKenzie Bisballe. Ferris gained slightly more momentum, however, GVSU’s staggering lead made it difficult for the Bulldogs to successfully make up the point difference. After a media timeout, the Bulldogs were awarded a free throw, where Mia Riley sank three shots into the basket. By the end of the second quarter, the Lakers were up by 31 points, with a score of 44-13.

At the start of the third quarter, Ferris made it clear they weren’t going down without a fight. Hiram made a jump shot in the paint to score the quarter’s first point. Following Hiram’s jump shot, the Bulldogs’ Kenzie Bowers slashed through the Lakers’ defense to score a layup.

The Lakers responded to this when redshirt junior Nicole Kamin stepped up and sank a 3-pointer. However, Ferris didn’t let Kamin’s 3-pointer ruin their flow, as Elle Irwin responded with a 3-pointer for the Bulldogs. Ferris fought to keep up their momentum, desperate to bridge the gap in scoring. The Bulldogs scored eight more points back to back. Despite the Bulldogs’ best efforts, the Lakers were still up by 24 points. The quarter ended with a score of 56-32.

In the last quarter, Ferris fought hard to upend the Lakers, but it was to no avail. The Lakers maintained control and stayed out of the Bulldogs’ reach. GVSU closed out the game with a 78-57 point victory. 

The Lakers were led in scoring by the Bisballe sister duo. MacKenzie Bisballe scored 17 points, while her sister, Rylie Bisballe, scored 13.

“Our team is trying to focus on one game at a time,” Rylie Bisballe said. “We all (want) to win and be a selfless team. I think our team focusing on what we can do to help each other and get a win has been very rewarding thus far.”

The Lakers hope to continue their success when they head to Hammond, Ind. on Thursday, Feb. 13 to play against Purdue Northwest.

On Thursday, the Lakers traveled 6 1/2 hours to Marquette, Michigan, where they played the Wildcats.

The game started with the Lakers gaining an early lead against the Wildcats. At the start of the quarter, the Lakers came out hot with a 3-pointer from GVSU’s Kathryn Schmidt, which set the tone for the rest of the quarter. As GVSU pulled ahead, NMU fought back, trying to bridge the gap. 

Halfway through the quarter, the Wildcat’s Jacy Weisbrod knocked down a triple, which lessened the Lakers’ lead to only three points. The Lakers quickly responded, as redshirt junior Paige Vanstee blasted through the Wildcats’ defense to score a layup. After Vanstee’s layup, the Lakers began to shut the Wildcats out. GVSU kept NMU on their toes for the rest of the quarter as they struggled to play catch up against the Lakers. 

With two minutes left in the quarter, NMU’s Abi Fraaza stepped up to the line and scored two free throws, slightly bridging the gap between the Lakers. After Fraaza’s free throws, the Lakers hunkered down on defense and closed the door on the Wildcats for the remaining two minutes. With a minute left on the clock, redshirt junior Nicole Kamin scored a 3-pointer to close out the quarter for the Lakers, 22-10. 

The next quarter began with the Wildcats fighting to bridge the gap between them and the Lakers. Just two minutes into the quarter, NMU’s Alyssa Hill made a layup, followed by two free throws by NMU’s Mackenzie Holzwart, which brought the score to 22-14. 

The Lakers cut the Wildcats’ momentum short, and maintained control for the rest of the quarter. At the end of the quarter, a foul by NMU’s Sarah Newcomer awarded GVSU a free throw. Kamin sank the first free throw in the basket for the Lakers, ending the quarter with a 13-point lead, 42-29.

During the third quarter, the Wildcats didn’t give the Lakers a chance to significantly widen their lead. By the end of the quarter, the Lakers still led by 13 points, with a score of 51-38.

The final quarter was nothing short of Laker dominance. Vanstee started GVSU off with a 3-pointer, followed by a layup in less than two minutes. NMU followed this up with a layup from Hill. Hill’s layup did nothing to stop GVSU’s offensive fury, as Kamin sank a 3-pointer, followed by another 3-pointer from redshirt senior Rylie Bisballe. 

After a foul by NMU’s Holzwart, Vanstee stepped up to the line and calmly sunk two into the basket. Less than one minute after this, junior Avery Zeinstra made a 3-pointer, which gave GVSU a 25-point lead. By this point, it was clear things weren’t looking good for the Wildcats.

With 50 seconds left on the clock, freshman MacKenzie Bisballe maneuvered through NMU’s defense and scored a layup. 

When the clock hit zero, GVSU had won, 74-48. Vanstee led the Lakers in scoring, with a season-high of 20 points. Vanstee emphasized her and the team’s balanced approach to winning.

“This season hasn’t been about numbers,” Vanstee said. “It’s been about being our best and doing the little things that win games.”

The Lakers were soon back on the road to Houghton, Michigan, where they played against the MTU Huskies.

During the first quarter, the Lakers kept control of the lead while going basket-for-basket with the Huskies. The quarter started with a 3-pointer from Kamin, which was matched by two free throws from MTU. By the end of the quarter, GVSU held a seven-point lead, with a score of 14-7. 

In the second quarter, the Lakers fought to widen their lead, but the Huskies doubled down defensively to keep the Lakers’ lead no higher than 11. With 40 seconds left on the clock, MacKenzie Bisballe knocked down a triple, which brought the Lakers’ lead back to double digits, ending the quarter, 31-21. 

In the third, the Huskies dug deep, and made sure to keep their lead in the single digits for the majority of the quarter. As the Lakers fought to bring their lead up, the Huskies battled to tie up the score. The Lakers ended the third with an eight-point lead and a score of 49-41.

The Lakers started the final quarter with a 3-pointer from redshirt senior Hadley Miller, which brought the lead back to double digits. 

“Personally, I’m just focused on doing what I can to help us continue our success,” Miller said. “(I’m) just focusing on consistency in the little things.”

By the middle of the quarter, the Huskies couldn’t keep up with the Lakers and their lead only stretched. By the end of the game, GVSU won with an 18-point lead and a final score of 69-51. 

The team is hoping to keep their winning streak alive when they return home to play Lake Superior State on Thursday, Feb. 6.

The game against Davenport marked the team’s third consecutive away game. However, the Lakers didn’t seem to be bothered by going on the road. 

“Nothing changes when it comes to preparation for road games,” said redshirt junior Nicole Kamin. “It does help that we are able to come back and practice in our own gym before we head out for the next game.”

The Lakers came out of the gate strong, and made their first five baskets in a row. With two of the baskets being 3-pointers, the Lakers quickly found themselves on a 12-3 run. 

Davenport eventually broke GVSU’s run with a layup, but this only triggered another scoring run by the Lakers. After a made layup by the Panthers, GVSU went on an eight-to-zero run. This provided GVSU a 21-5 lead only halfway through the opening quarter.

The final five minutes of the first quarter were a bit closer in scoring. Regardless, considering their early lead, the Lakers found themselves up 30-12 going into the second quarter.

The second quarter started with another run by GVSU. The Lakers scored six straight points, and extended their lead to 24. This quarter was when the Lakers really showed their dominance. For the entire second quarter, Davenport was only able to score 11 points. GVSU, on the other hand, was able to score another 30 points. The Lakers went into the break with a 60-23 lead over the Panthers. Going into the third quarter, there was little chance for Davenport to make up the deficit.

The third quarter, while still largely dominated by GVSU, was Davenport’s best quarter of the game. The team was able to put together two small scoring runs. This was the closest point differential, due to the Panthers being able to briefly slow down the Lakers.

Unfortunately for Davenport, the Lakers bounced right back in the final quarter. They outscored the Panthers 28-13 in the closing frame, and won in dominant fashion. 

The final box score was quite telling of how lopsided the game was. GVSU had six different players in double figures. Alongside that, the Lakers were able to capitalize on turnovers by scoring 49 points off of Davenport’s errors. During the blowout, the Lakers were also able to obtain valuable minutes from their bench, scoring 64 of the game’s 110 points.

Following the game, GVSU improved to 17-1 on the season and 7-0 in conference play. This marks back-to-back wins of over 50 points for the Lakers. The team’s 110 points also broke their season high from last week, as the Lakers previously scored 104 points against Lake Superior State. 

Redshirt senior Rylie Bisballe has a great deal of confidence in her squad’s ability, whether at home or away.

“We try to take one game at a time, and play our style at any gym we go to,” said Bisballe. 

There was a lot of excitement going into this matchup, as both teams were undefeated in GLIAC play. The fact that the game was against GVSU’s number one rival only added fuel to the fire.

“It’s always fun going up to Ferris and playing in their gym,” said redshirt junior Nicole Kamin. “That environment is always competitive.”

The opening quarter was the closest the game would be. Both teams were feeling the other out and trying to get a sense of how the game was going to transpire. However, after most of the first quarter was closely battled, GVSU closed out the quarter with a seven to zero run. The run was capped off by a steal and transition bucket by Kamin. This gave the Lakers an eight-point lead going into the second quarter.

Ferris opened the second quarter’s scoring with a made free throw, which cut the Lakers’ lead to seven. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, this was the closest the score would be for the rest of the game. GVSU outscored Ferris 15-11 in the second quarter, and went into halftime up by 12 points. Kamin was the leading scorer with nine points. 

“In the first half, I was focusing on doing the little things and staying aggressive on the offensive side,” Kamin said.

If there is one thing about teams coached by Mike Williams, they seem to weather the storm. Opposing teams often give their best shot early, but once the Lakers settle into their defensive identity, it’s almost as if the court shrinks as a result of GVSU taking complete control.

Senior Abrie Cabana drilled a 3-pointer directly out of the break. This sparked a 12-four run by the Lakers, and set the tone for the entire second half.

The Lakers also boasted a very strong performance from MacKenzie Bisballe in the second half. She provided seven points and five rebounds to her squad after the break, and three of her offensive rebounds led to second-chance baskets. 

It was clear that GVSU’s defense was disrupting anything the Bulldogs attempted to set up. At one point in the third quarter, Ferris State went three whole minutes without logging a single point. 

The Lakers continued this defensive performance for the remainder of the second half. The team also got a huge boost from redshirt senior Rylie Bisballe on the other end of the floor, who scored 11 points in the second half. In the same way that Kamin was the first half’s star, Rylie Bisballe was the star of the second.

“Coming out of the half, we knew as a team we couldn’t let up,” said Rylie Bisballe. “My teammates were able to find me and I just had to have the confidence to score.”

The fourth quarter did not provide enough time for the Bulldogs to make a comeback. Anytime Ferris was able to get the deficit under 20, the Lakers responded with very productive possessions on offense. The Bulldogs did not lead for a single second of the game. 

GVSU secured the win by 22 points, with the final score being 83-61. After this win, the Lakers improved to 15-1 on the season, and remain undefeated in GLIAC play. 

The game started a bit stagnant, as neither squad could get a solid rhythm on the offensive side of the ball. GVSU did a remarkable job early on forcing turnovers, and right away, the Lakers came out in a full-court press. This seemed to rattle Ashland, as GVSU was able to force six total turnovers in the first quarter alone.

“It’s kind of what we do,” said head Coach Mike Williams, in reference to the team’s strong defensive start. 

For quite a bit of the first half when the Lakers would score, Ashland always had an answer. The Eagles were able to take the lead on several occasions. Regardless, GVSU easily played their best ball at the end of the first, largely in part to redshirt senior Ellie Droste. Droste was able to drain back-to-back 3-pointers. This helped GVSU take a nine-point lead going into the half, with the score being 29-22. 

“By running up and down the court (and) sprinting the lane, that really opens up the three-point line for me,” said Droste.

The Lakers’ strong end to the half carried over into the second. Not even a minute into the second half, redshirt senior Rylie Bisballe backed down into the key and scored. This sparked a 18-3 run for GVSU. During this run, the Lakers started to establish their dominance inside the paint. Only one basket in the third quarter was scored on the perimeter. The other seven were from driving and posting up. 

GVSU was able to outscore Ashland 19-7 in the third quarter. Combined with the intensity of the offensive plays, the defensive dominance was still a factor for GVSU as well. The Lakers led in almost every defensive category in the third quarter, including blocks and steals. 

The fourth quarter gave GVSU much more of a challenge. Ashland was able to keep the scoring differential within single digits. The first point of the closing frame belonged to Ashland, but GVSU answered just seconds later with a layup by MacKenzie Bisballe. This caused a 6-0 run by the Lakers to start the fourth. 

From this point on, the scoring slowed down a bit and it seemed like GVSU really dug their heels into defense. The Lakers knew that nursing a lead is just as important as getting one, and they were able to close out the Ashland Eagles. 

Aside from the opening quarter, GVSU controlled every other aspect of the game. They outscored the Eagles in the last three quarters. Another huge part of the Lakers’ success was their depth. They were able to get a 27-point contribution from their bench unit, while Ashland had just seven points from theirs. 

The final score was 67-42, which marked the third top-10 win of the season for GVSU. The Lakers have also moved to 6-0 for the season so far.

“I thought the effort was amazing,” said Williams. “They were really active against a really good team.”

The Lakers have two weeks off before they start GLIAC play at the beginning of December.

The team has been victorious this season, with a current undefeated record of 4-0. With high stakes from their previous 31-3 season, the pressure is high. Redshirt freshman Maya White commented that despite mounting pressure, the team manages to keep its momentum.

“The energy the team gives each other really helps us keep going, and we’re all supportive,” White said. “We have a saying, ‘next play mentality,’ so whatever happens, a mistake (0r) a mess up, we just keep it going (with) ‘next play mentality.'”

The Lakers managed to keep their momentum going against Ohio Dominican, with the Lakers steamrolling the Panthers.

This game was especially important for the team, with it being their Senior Day game. Before the game, the team paid homage to its senior and graduating players Hadley Miller, Ellie Droste, Rylie Bisballe, Abrie Cabana and Kathryn Schmidt.

In the first quarter, the Lakers wasted no time scoring. A little more than a minute in, Bisballe blasted through the Panthers’ defense to score a layup, which was assisted by Abrie Cabana.

Less than four minutes in, the Lakers found themselves with a 12-point lead over the Panthers. However, Ohio Dominican pushed back soon after, slicing through the Lakers’ defense, and allowing Panther Macy Chapman to score a layup. This brought the score to 12-2.

The Panthers began to get desperate and fouled the Lakers, sending them to the line to score two easy points. Not even a minute later, the Panthers scored two back-to-back layups from Shannon Wojciak and Sarah Ochs, making the score 15-6. 

The Panthers’ momentum didn’t last long before the Lakers completely shut them out. For the remainder of the quarter, the Lakers were unstoppable. They shut the door on the Panthers for the rest of the quarter by maintaining an impenetrable defense. 

At the end of the first quarter, with just four seconds left on the clock, Laker Avery Zeinstra glided to the rim to score a layup, ending the quarter with a 15-point lead, 21-6.

The Panthers started the second quarter hot with an early layup by Logan Pride. However, their momentum was quickly cut short. Zeinstra couldn’t miss, with two back-to-back 3-pointers scorching the nets. Zeinstra helped bring the Lakers’ lead to 19 points, 27-8.

With a relentless offense and impenetrable defense, the Lakers buried the Panthers with an astounding 25-point lead by the end of the quarter. The team pushed the score to 46-21.

Beginning the third quarter, the Lakers were quick to the paint, taking advantage of openings in the Panthers’ defense to score a layup. The Panthers followed this up with a jump shot by Meghan Mayotte. 

The Lakers immediately struck back. With the hoop locked in, Droste nailed a 3-pointer for the Lakers, giving them a 24-point lead.

GVSU maintained an over 20 point lead over the Panthers until a 3-pointer by Laker Lexi Plitzuweit pushed the team to a 27-point lead. At this point, the score was 61-34. After Plitzuweit’s three, the Lakers’ lead only began to soar.

By the end of the third quarter, the Lakers held a 34-point lead over the Panthers, 70-36.

GVSU had an explosive start to the fourth quarter by dropping 11 consecutive points on the Panthers. Their defense was a brick wall, keeping the Panthers from the net for the first five minutes of the quarter. 

With the clock winding down, there was no chance of catching up for the Panthers. With 43 seconds left on the clock, White pushed through the Panthers’ defense to score a layup. Sydney Cherney followed that up with a 3-pointer, with only eight seconds left on the clock. By that time, the Panthers’ fate was sealed, and the Lakers won with a show-stopping 51-point lead and a final score of 94-43.

GVSU junior Megan Crow emphasized that the team doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.

“I think (we) just want our team to succeed, and push each other every day in practice to get better,” said Crow.