at Michigan Tech (12-4, 8-3 GLIAC)
Thursday, 5:30 p.m.
Radio: WTKG-AM 1230 | Listen
Video: Watch (pay per view)
Live Stats | Game Notes
 
at Northern Michigan (12-4, 7-4 GLIAC)
Saturday, 1:00 p.m.
Radio: WTKG-AM 1230 | Listen
Video: Watch (pay per view)
Live Stats | Game Notes

Riding a newly minted three-game win streak and coming off a big victory over GLIAC North Division leader Saginaw Valley State, the Grand Valley State women's basketball team looks to keep their momentum going on the annual Upper Peninsula trip this weekend. The Lakers will play two tough opponents in Michigan Tech on Thursday and Northern Michigan on Saturday afternoon.
 
Fans can follow along with the games by using the above links.  The games will be broadcast on WTKG-1230 AM, with sixth year play-by-play man DJ Foster calling the action for both games. Video streams for each game are provided, but are pay-per-view only.
 
GVSU (13-4, 8-3 GLIAC) has been playing well as of late, continuing to improve upon a GLIAC-best scoring defense that allows just 52.6 points per game, while finally finding some rhythm on the offensive end as well. After starting the new calendar year with two games in which they did not reach 60 points, the Lakers have scored above that in each of their three games in the streak, in addition to holding their opponents below that mark in each contest.
 
In Saturday's victory over Saginaw Valley State, the Lakers held serve at home by limiting the damage done by the Cardinals 1-2 punch of forward Emily Wendling and explosive shooter Katelyn Carriere. Despite combining for 33 points on 14-28 shooting in the game, the duo were not allowed to score at will as they have all season. Additionally, the Lakers allowed the Cardinals just one singular trip to the free throw line, an immense victory against a team that came into the matchup with the second most free throws attempted and made in the GLIAC. Grand Valley State was smart on the defensive end, committing only 11 total fouls and not fouling the Cardinal shooters. Despite shooting a respectable 43 percent from the field and 47 percent from beyond the arc, the Cardinals also committed 16 turnovers in the game, and struggled to find a good offensive rhythm.
 
The Lakers owe much of their success to this point to the play of their five senior starters. While no Laker is averaging double figures this season, each of the five starters has shown the ability to be a scorer when given the opportunity, as well as playing very fundamental defense as a group. In both of GVSU's recent victories, three of the starters finished in double figures. On Thursday against Wayne State, Kayla Dawson snapped a five-game single digit point streak dating back a month by finishing with a game-high 17 points. The De Pere, Wisconsin native did it on an efficient 6-10 shooting performance from the field and chipped in five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Bailey Cairnduff chipped in 14 points (4-8 3-Pt.) and Piper Tucker added 12. Saturday was a different story, as senior guard Janae Langs paved the way with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists, Tucker added 14 and Taylor Lutz scored 13 and hauled down seven rebounds.
 
The versatility and flexibility in the Laker starting five is the team's major strength, as the players function as interchangeable pieces, each of which possesses the confidence to catch and score when they get the ball in their hands. Adding to the team's performance have been notable performers off the bench, including Taylor Parmley and freshman center Cassidy Boensch, who leads the team with 19 blocks through 17 games. Lindsay Baker and Jenn DeBoer have provided additional shooting off the bench, with the latter also running the point to spell Lutz for portions of the game.
 
Thursday's matchup is the 12-4 (8-3) Michigan Tech Huskies, who have continued their traditionally dominant performance at the SDC Gymnasium in Houghton this year, sporting a 6-1 home record thus far. GVSU had not won in Houghton since 2007 before last season, and fell 57-55 to the Huskies during the regular season on a last second layup. That was one of three matchups with the Huskies the Lakers would play, and GVSU would avenge the road loss with a narrow victory in Houghton in the GLIAC Tournament, 65-63. Langs was the hero of that affair, nailing a game-winning three-pointer with eight seconds left to put the Lakers up for good.
 
The Huskies have won four of their last five games, and four straight home games, with their lone loss during that span coming from a road loss to Saginaw Valley State on January 14^th. Michigan Tech has the GLIAC's fourth best offense, pouring in 70.3 point per game on .447/.379..759 (FG/3-Pt/FT) shooting percentages. Senior guard Morgan Anderson leads the team with 17.4 points per game, with Breanna Heise (12.5), Kelli Guy (11.8) and Elizabeth Kelliher (10.1) each chipping in double digit scoring. Led by Kelliher (2.3 blocks per game), the Huskies also hold teams in check on defense, ranking second in the GLIAC in blocks (4.8 a game), fifth in opposing field goal percentage (39.8) and third in opponent points-per-game (60.9).
 
On Saturday, the Lakers visit the Berry Events Center and the 12-6 Northern Michigan Wildcats. The Wildcats are an improved squad from last season, and will be ready to exact revenge upon the Lakers if possible after being soundly beaten by them in Allendale (70-30) and in Marquette (70-49) last season. The Wildcats have the benefit of playing at home in this matchup, where they have posted a 7-1 record this season. NMU has been stalwart on defense this season, allowing opponents just 57.8 points per game, the second-lowest total in the GLIAC behind GVSU. Additionally, the Wildcats rank second in field goal percentage allowed (37.9), seventh in three-point field goal percentage (32.7) and third in blocks (4.1 per game).
 
The Wildcats are led in scoring by a guard duo of senior Bre Gaspervich (11.9) and sophomore Darby Youngstrom (11.4). Youngstrom is also the team's leading rebounder at 6.4 boards per contest, while connecting on 51 percent of her attempts from the field this season. Offensively, the Wildcats have been solid, shooting 41.7 percent from the field (6^th in GLIAC) and 33.2 percent from three-point (9^th in GLIAC).
 
The Lakers return to Allendale for a matchup on Monday night (Jan. 30) with West Michigan rival Ferris State at 6:00 p.m.