Southern Indiana (Saturday, Nov. 25 – 1:00 PM)
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Bellarmine (Sunday, Nov. 26 – 3:00 PM)
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The Grand Valley State women's basketball team is set to travel to Louisville, Ky. for the Ballarmine University Thanksgiving Classic this Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 25-26). In the first NCAA Division II media poll, the Lakers opened up at No. 25, while also receiving votes in the coaches poll as well. The Lakers will face two non-conference opponents this weekend in the Screaming Eagles of Southern Indiana on Saturday and host school Bellarmine on Sunday. Saturday's game is set to tipoff at 1:00 PM, while Sunday's matchup has a 3:00 PM start.
 
The Lakers have gotten off to a hot start this season, as they are currently 4-0 after opening the season with victories over Maryville and Missouri-St. Louis on the road before traveling back to Allendale for two more victories over Indianapolis and Lewis last weekend (Nov. 17-19).
 
A lot of GVSU's success this season has come on the heels of its' defense, as the Lakers are allowing opponents to score just 58.5 points per game, which currently ranks second out of all the teams in the GLIAC. Part of the reason the Lakers have been so successful at limiting opponents scoring is their defense on the perimeter. Opponents have hit just 21-80 three-point attempts against the Lakers, which works out to a 26.3% clip, the third lowest percentage in the league. The Laker defense is also only allowing opponents to pull down an average of 29.8 rebounds per game, which is also the second lowest mark in the league.
 
Despite their lockdown defense, the Lakers have had an impressive offensive performance so far this season as well. The Lakers are shooting 44.9% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc, which ranks them third and second in the league, respectively. GVSU has also done a good job of protecting the ball on offense, as they are averaging just 12.5 turnovers per game while also dishing out 15.5 assists as well. Those numbers are also in the top-tier in the league, ranking second and third in the league, respectively.
 
Leading the way offensively for the Lakers this season has been junior guard Natalie Koenig. Koenig, in her first season as a Laker, is leading the team with 15.3 points per game, including a 21-point performance in a 61-58 victory over Missouri-St. Louis earlier this season. The junior is also shooting 44.0% from the three-point line, hitting a team-high 11-25 triples so far. Koenig also leads the team with five steals and ranks second on the squad with 12 assists.
 
In her sophomore season, Jenn DeBoer is second on the team in scoring, as she is averaging 14.8 points, including two performances of 17 points (at Maryville & vs. Lewis). Despite her stature (5'6"), DeBoer has pulled down 21 rebounds (5.3 rpg), which ranks third on the team. The sophomore also leads the team in assists, dishing out 15 so far this season.
 
Two other Lakers are also averaging double-digit points this season, as junior Taylor Parmley is scoring at a clip of 11.5 ppg, while senior Korynn Hincka is putting down 10.8 ppg. Hincka and Parmley have also been big on the boards for the Lakers, as they have pulled down 32 and 23 rebounds, respectively, which ranks first and second on the team. Hincka had a huge game down low against Indianapolis, as the center nabbed a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with nine points. It was the first time a Laker had pulled down 10+ rebound in a game since January 28 of 2016.
 
Cassidy Boensch has been a huge contributor off the bench for the Lakers this season, averaging eight points and four rebounds in just sixteen minutes per game. Boensch is currently the GLIAC leader in field goal percentage, hitting 73.7% of her shots from the floor (14-19), while also hitting 4-5 from the free-throw line. Boensch recently set a career-high in points, as the 6'2" sophomore poured in 15 points against Indianapolis in the Lakers home opener.
 
The Lakers first opponent of the weekend, Southern Indiana, opened up the first division II media poll ranked 17th, while also receiving votes in the coaches poll as well. The Screaming Eagles are 4-0 this season, having beat fellow GLIAC members Northwood, Saginaw Valley State, and Wayne State, as well as Ohio Dominican. Southern Indiana hasn't played in any close contests this season, as they are averaging 79.5 points per game while holding opponents to just 50.8.
 
The Screaming Eagles have been carried on offense by two seniors, guard Katie Grooms and forward Morgan Dahlstrom. Grooms currently leads the team with 19.0 points per game, while Dahlstrom isn't far behind at 17.5 per game. Dahlstrom has done her damage down low this season, shooting 31-50 from the floor with zero three-pointers attempted, while also bringing down a team-high 39 rebounds per game. Grooms is shooting just over 50.0% so far this season, including just 4-18 from three-point but has been deadly at the charity stripe, hitting 16-19 free-throws.
 
Randa Harshbarger has been the Screaming Eagles facilitator on offense, as she has dished out a team-high 17 assists and is averaging six points per game as well. Harshbarger is also a threat on defense, as she also leads the team with 18 steals this season.
 
GVSU's second opponent of the weekend is host school Bellarmine, who is also undefeated to start the season. The Knights took down Saginaw Valley State and Northwood in the opening weekend and most recently beat Alderson Broaddus last weekend. Bellarmine is averaging 84.3 points per game so far and is holding its opponents to just 56.3 points.
 
On offense, senior Raven Merriweather leads the Knights, as the senior guard is averaging 20.7 points per game. Merriweather has also pulled down a team best 22 boards (7.3 per game). Mikayla Berry is the lone other Knight to be averaging double-digits this season. The sophomore is averaging 13.0 points per game, while shooting 6-12 from beyond the arc. Katie Downey, who has come off of the bench every game so far this season, is third in scoring, averaging 9.7 points, while also dishing out a team-high 10 assists.
 
Following this weekend's games, the Lakers will open up GLIAC play next weekend (Nov. 30-Dec. 2) as they travel to Wayne State on Thursday for a 5:30 PM tipoff before making the short trip to Davenport on Saturday for a 1:00 PM matchup.