Nov. 24, 2006
Box Score
#1 Grand Valley State defeated #10 Drury, 57-54, in a battle at the GVSU Fieldhouse Friday night. The win improves the Lakers to 4-0 overall and increases their winning streak to 26 straight games. Tonight's victory also marked head coach Dawn Plitzuweit's 100th win at GVSU. She has posted a 100-31 record in the five years she has been at the helm of the Lakers.
The visiting Panthers jumped out to a five point lead, 7-2 on a layup at 16:18 mark, but the Lakers tied the game at 10-10 on a jumper by Taushauna Churchwell with 11:08 left in the first half. GVSU took its first lead of the game on a three-pointer by Erika Ryskamp at the 10:05 mark and increased the lead to nine points (22-13) on another Ryskamp three-pointer and a pair of Chuchwell free throws. Two more free throws by Churchwell with 2:41 left in the first half gave GVSU a 29-17 lead. The Lakers held a 33-24 advantage at the half.
Drury came out in the second half and cut the lead to two points, 40-38 with 13:42 left, but GVSU pushed the lead back to seven points, 51-44 at the 7:19 mark. Drury came back to tie the game at 53-53 on two free throws with 2:35 left in the game. Two Erin Cyplik free throws with 28 second left gave GVSU a 55-53 lead. Drury split a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 55-54, but two free throws by Crystal Zick with 12 seconds left sealed the 57-54 win for the Lakers.
Junior guard Crystal Zick led GVSU with 16 points, four rebounds, and two assists, while senior center Julia Braseth recorded a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, while adding three assists and three steals. Senior guard Erika Ryskamp posted 14 points, four rebounds, and an assist and senior guard Taushauna Churchwell had eight points, five rebounds, and four assists. Junior forward Erin Cyplik added two points and four rebounds.
The Lakers will host Bellarmine on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 2:00 p.m. in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.