ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Grand Valley State women's basketball team kicked off their GLIAC schedule with a 64-43 victory over conference foe Findlay on Thursday night at the GVSU Arena. The Lakers now hold a 1-0 GLIAC record and a 5-1 record overall while Findlay drops to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in GLIAC competition. 

GVSU trailed for the first three minutes of the contest, but quickly gained their footing near the seven minute mark of the first quarter after a pair of three pointers from Kayla Dawson and Piper Tucker. GVSU would go on a 15-2 run and the Lakers would never trail for the remainder of the game. The Lakers lead 18-10 after the first quarter. Findlay would only score six points in the second quarter, while GVSU stretched their lead to 25 by the end of the first half behind a 5-7 mark from beyond the arc. 

The Oiler offense would surrender as many turnovers in the first half as they had points, turning the ball over 16 times. GVSU was able to turn the 16 turnovers into 12 points on the offensive end of the floor. 

In the second half, Findlay would outscore the Lakers 27-23, but were again plagued by turnovers in giving extra possessions to GVSU 12 times. The Lakers outscored the Oilers 18-12 in the paint and would rain in 11 three pointers on 32 attempts for the night as opposed to Findlay's 3-13 from beyond the arc. 

Dawson would lead the way for the Lakers with 21 points shooting 8-12 and 3-5 from three. Taylor Lutz would provide five assists for the game, leading GVSU, while Bailey Cairnduff pitched in five steals on the defensive end. Fifteen Lakers would see time on the court against the Oilers, while nine players would score. The Lakers continue GLIAC competition on Saturday at 5:00 pm when they take on Ohio Dominican in the first game of a Saturday night doubleheader at the GVSU Arena.