Feb. 1, 2007

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Allendale, Mich. - Senior center Julia Braseth scored seven of the Lakers final nine points to help GVSU claim a 53-47 victory over Lake Superior State before a crowd of 1,312 Thursday night at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. GVSU improves to 17-4 overall and 10-2 in GLIAC action, while Lake Superior State falls to 14-6 and 9-3.

Lake Superior State led for most of the first half, building a 25-10 lead with 6:42 left in the opening stanza. Freshman center Lauren Buresh tallied a three-point play, followed by an Erika Ryskamp 3-pointer to pull GVSU within nine (25-16). Crystal Zick scored on a layup with 2:49 left and Erin Cyplik followed with another layup to pull GVSU within five (25-20). Zick added two free throws to conclude a 12-0 run over the final 6:42 of the half and Grand Valley State trailed by just three, 25-22, at the half.

"It was obviously important for us to end the first half the way we did," said GVSU head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. "We struggled offensively through much of the first half, but I was pleased that we turned it up a notch defensively and that in turn helped our offense," added Plitzuweit.

Grand Valley State took its first lead of the game (31-30) when Zick hit a 3-pointer at the 15:57 mark of the second half. It was GVSU's first lead since the 15:26 mark of the first half. Ryskamp scored on layup to give Grand Valley State a 33-30 lead. LSSU answered with a 10-1 run and took a 42-35 lead when Monica Rehmann hit a 3-pointer with 11:40 left in the game.

Buresh hit a baseline jumper to end the Lake Superior State run, followed by a layup by Cyplik. Braseth pulled GVSU to within one (42-41) with a jumper in the lane, but LSSU's Shalyn Beauchamp hit a 3-pointer just seconds later. Braseth hit another jumper at the 6:49 mark and added a free throw at the 3:43 mark to close the Lake Superior State lead down to one (45-44). Rehmann hit a pair of free throws with 3:25 left, but that would be the last time LSSU would put points on the scoreboard. Braseth hit a baseline jumper and then a 3-pointer from the left wing to give GVSU a 49-47 lead. She added a jumper from the paint with the shot clock winding down to up the Grand Valley State lead to 51-47. Zick added a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left to secure the win.

"We showed a lot of toughness in the final 10 minutes and we were able to make plays at both ends of the court," said Plitzuweit.

Julia Braseth led GVSU with 16 points and five rebounds, 12 of which came in the final 12 minutes. Erika Ryskamp chipped in 11 points and six rebounds, while Erin Cyplik added eight points and eight caroms. Crystal Zick scored nine points and dished out six assists. GVSU recorded 13 steals and forced Lake Superior State into 21 turnovers.