ALLENDALE, Mich. – The #3 ranked Grand Valley State women's basketball team defeated Lake Superior State 57-39 in a GLIAC matchup on Saturday afternoon in front of a crowd of 1,299 inside the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. GVSU improves to 13-0 overall and 5-0 in GLIAC play, while LSSU drops to 6-6 overall and 2-3 in league play.
 
Senior center Cassidy Boensch recorded a double-double with 29 points and 13 rebounds while also tallying five blocks, three steals and three assists. Senior forward Maddie Dailey was the only other Laker in double figures with 13 points. As a team, the Lakers shot 14-16 (87.5%), a season-high percentage, from the charity stripe to offset their lowest shooting percentage from the field (41.7%). GVSU held the advantage over LSSU in rebounding (43-29), points in the paint (34-12), and blocks (10-2).
 
The Lakers jumped out to a 13-3 lead midway through the first quarter and grew their lead to 17-5 at the end of the frame, while holding Lake Superior State to just 2-15 shooting from the floor. LSSU's cold streak would not last long however, as they would make four out of their next six shots in the second quarter to trim the Laker lead to just 24-19 with 4:51 left in the half. The two teams would trade baskets before the Lakers made five free throws in the final two minutes to take a 33-25 lead into the halftime break.
 
GVSU's defense came out of the intermission locked in once again. The Lakers held LSSU to just three points in the third quarter on just 1-15 (6.6%) shooting from the field. The lead was extended to 20 points by the end of the quarter with GVSU leading 48-28 entering the final quarter. The Lakers extended their lead to a game-high 21 points with 2:23 left in the contest.
 
The #3 ranked Lakers will have a huge showdown with #4 ranked Ashland next Thursday at 5:30 on the road in Ashland, Ohio. Both teams will enter the contest 13-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play.