Video (Malone) | Audio | Live Stats | Game Notes

Allendale, Mich. -- Effort, excitement and resiliency in the face of adversity is what Grand Valley State women's basketball head coach Janel Burgess is looking for from her team this weekend. The Lakers, who have dropped three consecutive games after a 7-0 start, will have a chance to show their coach all those things against Walsh this Thursday (Jan. 8) and versus Malone on Saturday (Jan. 10).
 
Struggles at the defensive end have led to the club's recent skid. After holding five of its first six Division II opponents to 61 points or less, GVSU has given up an average of 82 points in its last three outings.
 
"We have to play some defense. It's a very simple fix," says Burgess. "It's effort and energy on the defensive end, and it takes a lot of hard work."
 
At the team's most recent practice session, Burgess saw exactly what she hoped to.
 
"There was a sense of urgency with this group. They all had a different voice, a different presence," says Burgess. "That's the beauty of athletics: you always get another chance to be able to redeem yourself."
 
GVSU is not the only team going through this either. The GLIAC's only other undefeated team, Michigan Tech, suffered its first league setback at Tiffin. Four other GLIAC North Division teams, including preseason favorite Northern Michigan, have at least two losses in conference play. Even with the Lakers lurking near the top of the standings, though, their focus is on something else entirely.
 
"I'm more worried about what our overall mentality is, which has nothing to do with the standings at this point in time. It has to do with being our best," says Burgess. "Right now, it has to come to the principle of playing harder and more united than we have been in the last three games.
 
"The success will take care of itself as long as we keep those things in mind."
 
There have been a couple positives from the last three games. The emergence of Jammie Botruff, who battled injuries for much of last season, is one. The Gladstone, Michigan native scored a career-high 13 points at No. 11 Wayne State (Jan. 2) and nabbed a career-high eight rebounds at No. 2 Lewis (Dec. 21). Sophomore forward Piper Tucker has come on as well, averaging 10 points and 3.3 rebounds during the aforementioned stretch.
 
"Jammie Botruff is continuing to give us what we need," says Burgess. "Piper Tucker was an offensive weapon for us, who had (previously) not been as aggressive as she needed to be."
 
GVSU's re-energized defense will be put to the test right away. Walsh averages a league-best 78 points per game. Malone prefers low-scoring affairs, but Rachel Goddard and Selana Reale have the potential to light it up on any given night.
 
"Nonetheless, it has nothing to do with who we are playing," says Burgess. "It's about who puts on the white uniforms on Thursday and Saturday, and what effort and energy we have."
 
Tip off for Thursday's game is set for 6 p.m. ET, while Saturday's matchup is scheduled to commence at 1 p.m. Both contests will be at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena, where the Lakers are 5-0 this season.