Dec. 8, 2007

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Allendale, Mich. - Taylor Silas started the game with a three-pointer that was a sign of things to come. Silas scored a game-high 19 points as Grand Valley State defeated Findlay 64-55. The win was the sixth in a row for Grand Valley State, who boasts a record of 6-2 and a perfect 3-0 mark in GLIAC play. Their next game is on Saturday, Dec. 15 against Missouri-St. Louis. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

GVSU's first three baskets were three-pointers, two of them coming from Silas, as they jumped out to a 9-6 lead at the 16:44 mark. Silas made the next two baskets for the Lakers, giving her 10 points in the first 4:35 of the game. Ashley Westenbarger hit a three-pointer to make the score 13-11 with 14:30 remaining in the first half, but Grand Valley responded quickly. The Lakers went on a 10-2 run, highlighted by five points from Lauren Buresh, to stretch their lead to 23-13. Buresh finished the day with 12 points.

Silas pushed the lead to 12, 29-17, with her layup at the 7:26 mark. Crystal Zick scored three of her six points at the end of the first half to give Grand Valley a 37-25 lead heading into the break. Zick also dished out six assists and notched six steals.

A rare three-pointer from Buresh with just more than 15 minutes remaining in the second half made the score 47-35 in favor of the Lakers. Neither team scored for the next 3:12 before Michelle Derr made a free throw to bring the gap down to 11. From 15:12 to 7:45, both teams played stifling defense, allowing just one free throw apiece. Julie Gieler hit a jumper with 7:45 remaining to make the score 48-38.

Back-to-back baskets by Brittany Wells, who led the Oilers with 10 points, and Katie Greisinger cut the lead to five with 3:30 remaining, 52-47. Grand Valley, who had struggled at the line earlier in the game, made its free throws down the stretch to seal the game. The Lakers shot 11-14 from the charity stripe in the last minute and a half to preserve a 62-55 win over the Oilers.