Game Notes

Allendale, Mich.—In the dozens games in which he has been at the helm of the Grand Valley State women's basketball team, new head coach Mike Williams has got the Lakers playing tough and winning games. After handily defeating Wayne State and a 10-1 Findlay team at home last weekend, the Lakers  (9-3 overall, 4-2 GLIAC) sit in second place in the North Division standings, one game behind Michigan Tech. This weekend, the Lakers travel to Ohio to take on South Division opponents Walsh (7-4, 4-2 GLIAC) and Malone (4-7,1-5 GLIAC) on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
 
Grand Valley has been playing strong as of late, and defense has been the anchor for the winners of three straight. After giving up a season high 79 points to Ohio Dominican in the most recent loss of the season on December 13^th, the Lakers held their next three opponents (UM-Dearborn, Wayne State, Findlay) to 37, 39 and 35 points, respectively. The Lakers sit at 27^th in the nation in points allowed, as their impressive three game stretch has dropped their points allowed average to 56.8 per contest.
 
Conversely, the Lakers have excelled on offense as of late, seeing their team shooting average rise steadily since the beginning of the season, both from the field and at the free throw stripe. Grand Valley has risen to the 2^nd best average in the GLIAC in the latter, as they are hitting 75 percent of their free throws, and trail only Tiffin (81 percent) in that category. A plethora of shooters that can stroke the long ball has boosted the Lakers tremendously, as the team is hitting an average of 10 three pointers a game, which is the third best mark in the country. Junior guard Lindsay Baker leads the Lakers with 26 treys this season, one of six Lakers with at least 14 makes from beyond the arc this season. The Lakers 120 triples this season lead the GLIAC by a healthy margin, although Saturday's opponent Malone has made the 2^nd most three pointers in the GLIAc with 95.
 
On Thursday, Grand Valley will face off against a 7-4 Walsh squad coming off of an overtime loss to Saginaw Valley State on Sunday. The Cavaliers average 68 points per game on 39 percent shooting from the field, and are an undefeated 3-0 at home in the Cecchini Center. The squad is led by the tandem of  senior guard Kelsey Funderburgh (12.7 ppg, 2.9 steals per game) and sophomore forward Alex Hochstedler (11.8 ppg).  Hochstedler led the Cavaliers with 17 points, and Funderburgh added 16 in last season's game between GVSU and Walsh, a 72-66 win for the Lakers at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.
 
Saturday's opponent, Malone, has struggled this season, dropping two straight and three of their last four games. Playing at home has been the saving grace for the Pioneers, as they have all of their wins at Osborne Hall, and are winless elsewhere this season. The Pioneers feature a very balanced scoring attack, as five different players average double digit points per game, led by Rachel Goddard's 14.8 points per game. Grand Valley bested the Pioneers last season at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena 85-60, thanks to 20 points from Kayla Dawson and 16 points from Brionna Barnett.
 
The Lakers have been led by the duo of Dawson (14.9 ppg) and Barnett (12.4ppg) in scoring average this season, but with capable scorers throughout the lineup, the team has been led in scoring by six different players in games this season. Grand Valley is second in the GLIAC in scoring this season with 75 points per game, trailing undefeated Ashland for the top mark. Winning the rebounding battle and good passing on offense have been the mark of Grand Valley's success, as they have outrebounded and out-assisted their opponents in each victory this season, and are seventh and third in the GLIAC in those categories this season.
 
Tip off for Thursday is set for 5:30 p.m in North Canton, Ohio. Saturday's game is set to tip off at  1 p.m. in Canton, Ohio.
 
 
Additional Info
 
-GVSU owns the all-time series edge with Walsh, 3-0. Malone holds the edge over Grand Valley, 1-2.
-GVSU junior guard Kayla Dawson needs just 28 points to reach 800 career points.
- The 2015-16 Lakers currently hold a 1.32 assist-turnover ratio, which if it held, would best the program record of 1.20 for a season set by last season's squad.
- Grand Valley has not allowed an opposing player to score double digit points in three straight games.