vs. Purdue Northwest (Thursday, Feb. 7 – 6:00 PM)
Live Stats
Video (ESPN3)
Audio (WTKG 1230 AM)
vs. Wisconsin-Parkside (Saturday, Feb. 9 – 1:00 PM)
Live Stats
Video (ESPN3)
Audio (WTKG 1230 AM)
No. 13 Grand Valley State is finally back in GVSU Fieldhouse Arena this weekend after nearly a month on the road when they host Purdue Northwest (Thursday, Feb. 7) and Wisconsin-Parkside (Saturday, Feb. 9) this weekend. The Lakers are fresh off of another successful week, taking down Wayne State 78-50 and No. 3 Ashland 73-71 on the road as they improved to 19-2 overall and 12-1 in the league. Purdue Northwest enters the weekend 2-17 overall and 0-13 in the GLIAC while Parkside is 8-11 and 6-7.
The Lakers traveled to Wayne State last Friday (Feb. 1) where they ran away with a 28-point victory behind
Cassidy Boensch's 21-point, 16 rebound, three block performance. But it wasn't just Boensch who had a big game, as the Lakers had a season-high six players in double digit points.
Taya Andrews tallied seven,
Jenn DeBoer dropped 12 and
Natalie Koenig,
Victoria Hedemark, and
Maddie Dailey all added 10 points apiece. As a team, the Lakers shot an even 50.0% from the field and 40.0% from beyond the arc while holding the Warriors to just 28.6% overall and 24.0% from deep.
The impressive performance against Wayne State helped the Lakers gather momentum into their highly anticipated rematch with #3 nationally-ranked Ashland where they once again came out victorious, 73-71. This was a follow up game from when GVSU knocked off the then top-ranked Eagles back on Dec. 6 by a final score of 94-61. Boensch once again led the way with a huge 31-point, 13-rebound performance that also included seven blocks for 10 total rejections on the weekend. DeBoer had another nice game, scoring 16 first half points to keep the Lakers within striking distance in the second half, before finishing up with 18 total to go with seven assists and five boards. Dailey also added 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
It was an exciting end to the game to say the least. A Boensch layup tied the game at 71 with 1:04 on the clock before Ashland would inbound the ball with just 0:17 seconds left. Reigning National Player of the Year Jodi Johnson caught the ball right under the hoop but would have it ripped out of her hands by
Victoria Hedemark who then had the situational awareness to call a quick timeout. Out of the short break,
Natalie Koenig would streak from the right wing to the left side of the basket for an impressive layup with just 0:02 left to play to put the Lakers up two, 73-71. A desperation three from the Eagles would find itself long to seal the win for the Lakers.
For her efforts on the weekend, Boensch would be named the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Player of the Week as well as the GLIAC Player of the week after averaging 26.0 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 5.0 blocks.
The Pride will run into this streaking Laker team on a 14-game losing streak, having most recently dropped a pair of contests to Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan last weekend. Despite their tough start to the season, the last time the Lakers and Pride faced off, PNW held a 17-13 lead after the first quarter before eventually falling 75-49. They are currently averaging just over 58 points per game but are allowing nearly 76 on the defensive end.
Danielle Nennig, who is playing a team-high 30.3 minutes per game, leads the squad with 11.7 points per game on nearly 40% shooting from the field. Not far behind her is Shae Rhonehouse who is averaging 8.0 points. PNW's leading rebounder, Molly DeValkenaere, is pulling down 5.8 boards per game to go with 7.2 points and 16 total blocks.
In their first season in the GLIAC, Parkside is just under .500 against conference competition and are winners in two of their last three. After taking down Purdue Northwest 80-57 they upset Northern Michigan, who was then in first place in the GLIAC North Division, 72-64, before falling to Michigan Tech, 60-47.
Parkside currently sports a -5.1 scoring margin, allowing 70.2 points while scoring just 65.1 on the offensive end. Three difference Rangers are averaging double digits, led by Ali Bettencourt with 13.2 who is followed by Blair Arthur (12.6ppg) and Carolina Rahkonen (12.0ppg). Both Arthur and Rahkonen are averaging 4.3 boards per contest, just behind team-leader Georgie Eishold at 4.4.
Following this pair of games, the Lakers will once again be on the road as they travel to Saginaw Valley State (Feb. 14) and Northwood (Feb. 16) for two more conference contests.
