The Grand Valley State women's basketball team used a strong team effort on both ends of the floor to tackle  unbeaten #2 Lewis University on Wednesday, 71-63 at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. Grand Valley used timely scoring and points off turnovers to edge the Flyers despite Lewis shooting better in the game.
 
Bailey Cairnduff led the Lakers with 21 points and six rebounds, and Brionna Barnett and Kayla Dawson added 19 and 17 points, respectively, as the Lakers won their second straight game and ended the Flyer's five game unbeaten streak.
 
Grand Valley got off to a hot start, connecting on three 3-pt baskets within the first three minutes of the first quarter for an early 9-4 lead. After a Flyers layup, the two teams traded layups before the Flyers used an 8-0 run to take the lead, 14-11.
 
Hustling to retrieve an offensive board, Laker center Korynn Hincka set up a Brionna Barnett three pointer to end the Flyer's run and tie the game at 14 with 1:30 left in the first quarter.
 
After a Lewis jumper to end the first quarter with the Flyers holding a slim two point lead, 16-14, the two teams traded buckets twice to begin the second quarter before a Bailey Cairnduff jumper tied the game up at 20-20 seven minutes into the second quarter.
 
The teams would trade baskets back and forth until the 3 minute mark, with the Lakers gaining a five point lead. After a Lewis three-pointer cut the Laker lead to just two points, Brionna Barnett hit a jumper, and a minute later Dawson would make a driving layup. Lewis would miss a three point attempt, and Dawson would corral the board. After a Barnett miss on a three point basket, Taylor Parmley fought for an offensive board and laid the ball in for a third straight Laker basket.  Taylor Lutz stole the ball right back from Lewis on the ensuing possession, and Barnett would end the second quarter with a dagger from behind the arc, capping off a 9-0 run heading into halftime with a 39-28 Laker lead.
 
In the third quarter, the Lakers would let the Flyers get within nine points twice, thanks to ten points  in the quarter from guard Jamie Johnson, who came into the game averaging 22.8 points per game. Each time the Lakers responded, however, and remained firmly in the lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
In the fourth, the Flyers would take advantage of six empty Laker possessions in a row, climbing within three points on a 9-0 run. Cairnduff answered, scoring the next four Laker points in the span of 17 seconds to get the Lakers out of danger. A jumper to cut the GV to 61-56 with four minutes left was as close as the Flyers would get the rest of the way, as the Lakers kept well in front using buckets from Barnett and Cairnduff.
 
Despite making less baskets than Lewis and not shooting at as well from the field, the Lakers used an early edge in turnovers to generate an advantage in points, as well as holding the edge in points at the charity stripe (GV 13-17, Lewis 4-8), and from beyond the arc (GV 10-17 3 PT, Lewis 5-19 3 PT).
 
 The Lakers would also hold the edge in rebounding (38-36), though slim. Cairnduff and Piper Tucker both hauled in six boards, and Taylor Lutz and Dawson each had five boards. Hincka hauled in six boards in just nine minutes of play, including three offensive rebounds.
 
Lutz also chipped in four steals, Cairnduff and Dawson each had three swipes.
 
Johnson led the way for the Flyers with 19 points before leaving with an injury.
 
With the victory, the Lakers improve to 3-1 on the season, and 2-0 at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. On Saturday, the Lakers will take on Gannon (Pa.) University on the road. Last season, the Lakers routed then #5 Gannon 95-72 at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.