at #5 Ashland (Sunday, 1:30 p.m.): Watch | Listen | Live Stats
 
After two consecutive tournament upsets, the Grand Valley State women's basketball team looks to pull off a third straight win over a higher ranked team, as the Lakers take on #5 Ashland in the GLIAC Tournament championship game. Sixth-seeded GVSU will battle with top seed and host school Ashland at 1:30 p.m. on the Eagles' home floor.
 
There are links above to watch the free online webcast (provided by Ashland) or listen to the radio broadcast of the game, as well as a link to follow the live stats. The game will be aired on WTKG-AM 1230, with fifth year GVSU play-by-play announcer DJ Foster calling the action.
 
The last time GVSU advanced to the GLIAC Tournament title game was in 2005-06. That year, Grand Valley State won the GLIAC Championship with a 76-58 win, ironically over Ashland - but in the Fieldhouse Arena in Allendale. GVSU also won the league championship the previous year, with a 77-60 victory over Gannon in the 2004-05 tournament.
 
Grand Valley State earned a spot in the championship game with a 65-63 road overtime victory at Michigan Tech on Tuesday night (Mar. 1), then followed that with a 76-51 win over Saginaw Valley State on Saturday (Mar. 5) in Ashland. Michigan Tech was the tournament's #3 seed, while SVSU was the #2 seed in the conference. With Ashland as the Lakers' championship opponent, GVSU has faced the top three seeds in the tournament in a span of five days.
 
On Saturday against Saginaw Valley State, the Lakers shot an even 50.0 percent from the field and also 50.0 percent (11-of-22) from three-point range. GVSU led the entire ballgame, including a 27-9 edge at the end of the first quarter, and by as many as 27 points in the fourth quarter. It was sweet redemption for the Lakers, who dropped two regular season contests to SVSU.
 
Grand Valley State enters Sunday with a 22-8 overall record, while Ashland is now 29-1 on the season.
 
The winner of Sunday's championship game earns an automatic berth to next weekend's NCAA Midwest Region Tournament, at a site to be determined. In the most recent regional rankings, Ashland was the top seed, Saginaw Valley State was sixth, Michigan Tech was seventh, and Ohio Dominican was eighth; the top eight teams advance to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Ashland has all but guaranteed a spot in the Midwest Region Tournament and could very well host the tournament next weekend in Ohio. With the wins over Michigan Tech and SVSU, the Lakers have greatly increased their chances of earning a tournament berth, but a third straight win over a higher ranked opponent would clinch GVSU's spot in the bracket.
 
The teams played just once in the regular season and it was each team's GLIAC opener. Ashland escaped with a 72-65 win in Allendale on Dec. 3. Grand Valley State led 63-59 with 3:38 to play before the Eagles scored 13 straight points to take a 72-63 advantage and close out the road victory.
 
The Division II women's basketball NCAA Tournament Selection Show will air at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday night on NCAA.com.