ALLENDALE, Mich. – The #6 ranked Grand Valley State women's basketball team will look to bounce back this week after a tough loss vs. #2 Ashland last Saturday. The Lakers will host Saginaw Valley State on Thursday (Feb. 13) at 6:00 PM before traveling to Northwood on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 15) for a GLIAC tilt with the Timberwolves. GVSU, who now sits at 21-2 overall and 13-2 in league play, fell to #6 in the WBCA Top-25 poll this week, their lowest ranking of the season thus far.
 
Last Thursday, GVSU defeated Wayne State, 74-55, as senior center Cassidy Boensch scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Lakers, while senior forward Maddie Dailey and senior guard Victoria Hedemark each scored in double-figures with 15 points and 13 points respectively.  The much anticipated #2 vs. #3 matchup with Ashland took place Saturday with GVSU jumping out to a 9-4 lead early in the first quarter, but the Eagles went on a pair of runs in the second quarter to lead 39-23 at the half. The Lakers could only cut the deficit to 14 points before Ashland increased the lead in the second half and went on to win 77-52.
 
GVSU has clinched a berth in the GLIAC Tournament, which will begin March 3, and currently sit in second place, two games behind league-leading Ashland. The top eight seeds qualify for the conference tournament with seeds one through four hosting first round matchups. The semifinals and finals will then be hosted by the highest remaining seed after the first-round matchups conclude.
 
Saginaw Valley State will enter Thursday with a 11-12 overall and 7-8 conference record. The 11 wins are nearly double the win total (6 wins) the Cardinals amassed last season as first year head coach Jenny Pruett has her squad in line to make the GLIAC Tournament for the first time since 2016-17. The Cardinals come to Allendale riding a three-game win streak, defeating Michigan Tech, Ferris State, and Lake Superior State over the past two weeks. Freshman Kaitlyn Zarycki was named GLIAC South Division Player of the Week for her performances against Ferris State and Lake Superior last week. The Niles, Mich. native has scored 20+ points the past three contests including 25 points each against Michigan Tech and Ferris State.
 
The Lakers defeated SVSU 57-42 back on Jan. 18 in University Center, which is the fifth straight victory in the series for GVSU.
 
Northwood will travel to Davenport on Thursday night before hosting GVSU Saturday afternoon at 4:00 PM. The Timberwolves, currently 7-16 overall and 5-10 in conference play, are playing much better basketball despite what their record shows. After defeating Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan at home two weeks ago, Northwood earned a road win at Lake Superior State to increase their winning streak to three games. A tough 67-66 loss at Ferris State last Saturday snapped the win streak. Junior guard Ellie Taylor leads the Timberwolves with 11.7 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game.
 
GVSU ran away with a 74-35 win over Northwood on Jan. 16 in Allendale to increase their win streak in the series to six games.