BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The #3 ranked Grand Valley State women's basketball team overcame their first second half deficit of the season to defeat Ferris State 72-68 in Big Rapids on Thursday night in a GLIAC showdown. The Lakers improve to 12-0 overall and 4-0 in GLIAC play, while Ferris State drops to 7-5 overall and 1-3 in league play.
 
GVSU led 20-16 after the first quarter and 31-28 at the half before the Bulldogs came out strong in the second half and built a 51-43 lead with 2:53 left in the third quarter. The Lakers would chip away and enter the fourth quarter trailing 51-47.
 
 Ferris State buried a three-pointer to begin the fourth quarter to increase their lead to 54-47, but GVSU would answer with a 13-2 run over a five-minute span to recapture the lead at 60-56. The Bulldogs tied the game at 62-62 with 2:57 remaining, however a Jenn DeBoer three-pointer on the next possession gave the Lakers the lead in what would be the final lead change of the night. DeBoer and Maddie Dailey combined to knock down seven free throws in the final two minutes to seal the victory for the Lakers.
 
DeBoer had a monster night with 19 points, 13 rebounds (career-high), and eight assists, while Dailey scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Senior center Cassidy Boensch chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds and Taryn Taugher tied a season-high with 14 points.
 
The Lakers had a season-high 21 turnovers, but overcame that margin by outrebounding Ferris State 42-29, while also holding the advantage in points in the paint (42-32). GVSU shot 13-17 (76.5%) from the charity stripe, with key makes in the closing minutes to fend off the pesky Bulldogs.
 
GVSU will host Lake Superior State, who defeated Davenport 63-57 tonight, on Saturday afternoon inside the GVSU Fieldhouse with the tip set for 1:00 PM.