March 5, 2005

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State scored the first two points of the game on an Erika Ryskamp driving layup and never looked back en route to a 77-60 victory over Gannon for the school's first-ever GLIAC Tournament title. The Lakers receive the GLIAC's automatic bid into the NCAA DII National Tournament and will await word Sunday to see if they will host the NCAA DII Great Lakes Regional. GVSU heads into the Great Lakes Regional with a 25-5 record, with the 25 wins establishing a school single-season record.

GVSU jumped out to a 17-4 lead when sophomore forward Julia Braseth hit a jumper in the paint at the 14:30 mark. Braseth put the Lakers up 26-11 with a layup at the 7:35 mark, but Gannon cut the Laker lead down to seven with an 8-0 run. Junior forward Niki Reams hit a turn around jumper to put the Lakers up 28-19 and Reams drilled a three-pointer to boost the GVSU lead back to 13 (32-19). Gannon aswered with four quick points before sophomore guard Peaches Churchwell hit her second three of the half to give GVSU a 35-23 lead. The Lakers went into the lockerroom with a 35-25 lead at the half.

Grand Valley State continued to build its lead early in the second half and when Reams scored on a layup at the 14:04 mark the Lakers led 48-32. GVSU never led by less than 15 points for the remainder of the game and built its largest lead of the game, 69-48, on a Ryskamp three-pointer with 4:56 left.

Reams led GVSU with her school-record 13th double-double of the year. Reams tallied 28 points, 21 in the second half, and 10 rebounds. Ryskamp nearly collected just the second triple double in school-history with a 17-point, 10-assist, and 9-rebound effort. Taushauna Churchwell chipped in 10 points, while sophomore center Julia Braseth scored seven points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Crystal Zick chipped in eight points and dished out five assists. Grand Valley State outscored Gannon 21-0 on second chance points and held a 41-27 advantage in reounding, including 20 offensive rebounds. GVSU also had 24 assists on 28 baskets.

Janine Guastella set a GLIAC Tounament record with 11 steals, while GVSU tied the tournament record for a team with 36 steals and the single-game record with 17 against Northern Michigan. Reams established a GLIAC record for shooting percentage, making 70.7 percent from the floor (29-for-41). Niki Reams was named GLIAC Tournament MVP, while Erika Ryskamp and Julia Braseth were also named to the All-Tournament Team.