at Northern Michigan (Thursday, 6:00 p.m.): Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes
 
at Michigan Tech (Saturday, 12:00 p.m.): Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes

ALLENDALE, Mich.—When it works, it works for the Grand Valley State women's basketball team. The Lakers don't have the tallest lineup in the GLIAC; far from it, but their success this season has been palpable, thanks to a mix of great team defense and an offense full of good shooters. That mix has the Lakers  (16-5 overall, 11-4 GLIAC) sitting atop of the GLIAC North Division heading into matchups with Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech on the road.
 
There are links above to follow along to the radio broadcast of both games, as well as links to follow the live stats. The games will be aired on WTKG-AM 1230, with fifth year play-by-play announcer DJ Foster calling the action.
 
Confidence is high for GVSU, and with good reason. The team has won four of it's last five, including recent wins against Hillsdale at home and a blowout of rival Ferris State on the road on Monday, 97-60. It was the second highest scoring output of the season for the Lakers, and the first time this season that the Lakers had two 20+ point scorers in one game, as Piper Tucker netted 26 points, and Kayla Dawson had 24 of her own.
 
Thursday's game against Northern Michigan should offer few surprises. The teams have already faced each other this season, as NMU visited the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena on January 14^th. The Lakers were not the kindest of hosts, holding the Wildcats to a season low 30 points in the contest on just 17.8 percent (8-45) shooting from the field. Since that loss, however, the Wildcats have gone 4-2, including an upset victory over Michigan Tech on Monday night, 71-69.  While they are just 3-7 on the road this season, Thursday's matchup against Grand Valley is on the Wildcat's home court, where they are 5-2 this season and far more dangerous.
 
Bre Gaspervich leads the Wildcats, as she did Monday night, hitting the game winning layup in the last second to earn the victory over the Huskies. While the Wildcats average just 55.7 points per game, Gaspervich averages 11 of those by herself. An important aspect of NMU's game this season has been drawing contact and getting to the line, as they lead the conference in attempted free throws per game, with 18.5, and are third in the conference in made free throws per game, with 12.7.
 
If Grand Valley can hold the Wildcats to their season average in points, and be in the neighborhood of their own season average themselves, then the results speak for themselves. GVSU is 13-0 this season when holding opponents to 60 points or less, and having not been held below 60 points in any game this season, are 16-5 when scoring above that mark themselves.  GVSU is currently holding their conference opponents to an average of just 53.5 points per game this season, which is the top mark in the GLIAC.
 
A key factor that has Grand Valley atop the North Division is it's January 16^th victory over the Huskies of Michigan Tech, 68-57, at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. While Grand Valley has held the recent edge over Northern Michigan, having won four straight games over the Wildcats dating back to last season, the series with the Huskies has been more tightly contested as of late. The Laker win in January was the first for the Lakers over Michigan Tech since 2014.
 
Since that loss, the Huskies (13-6 overall, 11-4 GLIAC) had gone on a four game rampage, handily defeating four straight opponents by double digits, before dropping Monday night's game with Northern Michigan on the road. The Huskies have several dangerous players that can score from anywhere on the court, and the Lakers would be remiss not to take into account how Mackenzie Perrtu (21 points) and Danielle Blake (18 points) proved particularly effective in the January 16^th loss.  Morgan Anderson, another proven scorer for the Huskies, appears to be back from injury, giving the Huskies another threat.
 
To counter that threat, the Lakers bring their own potent lineup into the fray. The third best scoring offense in conference play, the Lakers average 72.6 points per contest, doing a good portion of their damage beyond the arc. Averaging 9.7 made three pointers per game, the third best mark in the country, the Lakers have shooters all throughout the lineup, and are always a threat to go on a big run to take of the game. Against Ferris State on Monday, the Lakers used a 16-2 run in the second quarter (12 points coming from triples) to break open the game and open a three point lead into a 45-28 halftime margin. In that game, Lakers forwards Piper Tucker and Kayla Dawson each shot 9-13 from the field and ended with 26 and 24 points, respectively.
 
Thursday night's game is set for a 6:00 p.m tip-off at Berry Events Center in Marquette, Michigan, while Saturday will feature a 12:00 p.m tip off at SDC Gymnasium in Houghton, Michigan.