ASHLAND, Ohio – The No. 6 Grand Valley State Lakers are headed back to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship after a 74-69 win over the No. 5 Drury Panthers Saturday (March 12) night at Kates Gymnasium. The Lakers will face the winner of the semifinal between Ashland and Walsh on Monday (March 14) with a 7:00 PM tip in Ashland.
 
The win clinches what will be at least the second-best winning percentage for a single season in program history and the 29^th win of the year stands alone as third all-time. This will be the second time in four years the Lakers reach the regional final and third time in seven seasons under head coach Mike Williams.
 
Emily Spitzley led the way with a career-high 28 points with eight rebounds and three made threes. Qay Stanton also scored a career-best 18 points, dished four assists and swiped three steals with two blocks. Ellie Droste hit clutch free throws down the stretch to pile up 13 points, drawing nine fouls throughout the game.
 
The back-and-forth affair saw 12 lead changes and eight ties, including a 16-16 score after the first quarter. The Lakers opened their largest lead of the night, so far, with back-to-back threes from Hannah Kulas, to go up 27-22 midway through the second quarter. The Panthers would answer with a 9-0 run to regain the lead, but Spitzley drilled a three and made a dash to the bucket for a layup to cut the deficit to one, 33-32, at the half.
 
The Lakers scored the first four points of the third quarter to regain the lead and outscored Drury 20-13 in the period with Spitzley scoring 10 points, including a pair of made threes, in the period and took a 52-46 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The Lakers did not allow a three by the Panthers in the first three quarters, forcing misses on the Panthers' first 14 attempts. Drury cut the lead to 52-50, but GVSU responded with an 8-0 run, capped by a Spitzley sprint-out for a layup to open a 60-50 lead. The Lakers lead would be trimmed to five twice, but Drury would never get back within one possession.
 
The Lakers look for the program's fourth trip to the Elite Eight in Monday's regional championship. Follow @GVSUWBB on social media or visit gvsulakers.com for updates on opponent, coverage links and updates. The game can be heard live on The Ticket West Michigan (106.1 FM, 1340 AM and www.theticketmi.com).