vs. Lake Superior State (Thursday, Feb. 22 – 5:30 PM – Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.)
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vs. Ferris State (Saturday, Feb. 24 – 3:00 PM – Big Rapids, Mich.)
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The Grand Valley State women's basketball team will hit the road for the final time this regular season, as they are set to travel up to Sault Ste. Marie to take on the Lake Superior State Lakers on Thursday (Feb. 22) before heading back south to Big Rapids for the final regular season game against GLIAC rival Ferris State on Saturday (Feb. 24). GVSU will enter the contest with a 21-5 overall record and a 14-4 mark in conference action. LSSU enters the weekend at 2-21 overall and 1-17 against GLIAC competition while FSU sits at an even 13-13 overall and 7-11 in league play but will face Purdue Northwest before their matchup with GVSU.
 
With the Lakers victory over Tiffin last weekend, they clinched at least a top-four seed and the right to host a GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinal matchup next Wednesday (Feb. 28). While their opponent has yet to be determined, the game will take place in GVSU Fieldhouse Arena at 7:00 PM. The GLIAC Tournament Semifinals and Finals will take place on March 3 & 4, respectively, with the highest remaining seed from the quarterfinals hosting.
 
In the most recent NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Rankings, the Lakers stayed in 5th after their 1-1 performance over the weekend and now sit with an overall record (DII competition only) of 19-5, which were all in-region opponents as well. Ashland (26-0, 24-0) leads the way and is followed by Drury (24-2, 23-2), Southern Indiana (21-2, 21-2), Michigan Tech (22-3, 22-2), and GVSU to round out the top five. Cedarville (19-5, 19-5), Lewis (20-6, 19-5), and Ursuline (19-7, 19-7) round out the top-eight teams that would make the regional tournament.
 
Last weekend, the Lakers fell in overtime to #1 Ashland, 96-90, before bouncing back to dominate Tiffin, 73-29. In the Lakers heartbreaking loss to #1 Ashland, junior Natalie Koenig and sophomore Cassidy Boensch both posted huge games for the Lakers, scoring 26 and 23 points, respectively. As a team, the Lakers shot 46.2% from the field and 48.0% from 3-point in the contest and their defense was as impressive as it has been all season. Despite Ashland being the top-scoring team in the country, the Lakers held them below their season scoring average, despite adding another five minutes of overtime, and also held them below their average field goal percentage. GVSU transitioned that defensive effort over to senior day against Tiffin, as they held the Dragons to just 29 total points and allowed just one quarter (third) of 10+ points. GVSU also forced 23 turnovers which they converted into 19 points, while Tiffin didn't get any free points from GVSU turnovers.
 
Against the Dragons, Boensch tallied a game-high 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds to record her second double-double of the season. For the sophomores' efforts over the weekend, Boensch was awarded her second straight – and third overall – GLIAC North Division Player of the Week Award. Against the Eagles and Dragons, Boensch averaged 22.0 points on 77.3% shooting and nine rebounds. The centers season average of 62.2% field goal percentage ranks second in the GLIAC while her 41 total blocks is the fourth highest mark in the conference.
 
As a team, the Lakers continue to boast the best defense in the league, as they are allowing opponents to score just 55.2 points per game, shoot 37.5% from the field and 26.6% from beyond the arc, all of which are tops in the GLIAC. Their offense is nothing to scoff at either, as they are scoring 71.2 ppg (4th in the GLIAC), while ranking third and fourth in field goal and 3-point field goal percentage, respectively.
 
Lake Superior State will enter the contest on Thursday on a five-game skid, having last taken down Saginaw Valley State back on the first of February for their first GLIAC victory of the season. This will be the second meeting between the Lakers and LSSU this season, with GVSU taking the first contest, 80-40, at the DeltaPlex Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. As a team, LSSU is scoring 57.6 points per game while giving up 75.5 points on defense. Senior Tamara Novic leads Lake Superior State in scoring with 12.0 ppg and is followed by Abigail Ostman (8.3 ppg) and Lexie Khon (8.1 ppg). Novic, who gets most of her word done inside the 3-point line, also leads the team with 6.4 rebounds per game while sophomore Claire Radtke acts as the main facilitator with 2.5 assists per contest.
 
The Bulldogs are looking to end their three-game losing streak after posting back to back wins against SVSU and Tiffin. In their last three contests, they have fallen to Ashland (122-53), Michigan Tech (80-63), and Northern Michigan (69-60), despite being one of the top offenses in the conference. The Bulldogs are ranked second in the GLIAC with 76.5 points score per game but their defensive scoring is third from the bottom, allowing 73.6 points to opponents. Three different Bulldogs are averaging 10+ points per game, led by Rachel McInerney (16.5), who is followed by Leah Humes (10.3) and Kelsey Wyman (10.0). McInerney is far and away the best rebounder on the Bulldog roster, pulling down 9.8 per game, while Lilly George sits in second with 5.3 boards per contest.
 
Following this weekend's games, the Lakers will have a quick turnaround to the GLIAC Tournament, which is set to start on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Again, the Lakers will host an opponent who is yet to be determined, but it has been decided the game will begin at 7:00 PM. Tickets for Wednesday's tournament game can be bought here.