ALLENDALE, MICH. – For the second time this season the women's basketball game between Grand Valley State and Michigan Tech decided who would sit atop the GLIAC standings. This time the Lakers would not be denied, using a big second quarter to take control and kept the pressure up the rest of the game, defeating the Huskies 60-43. The win moves GVSU to 21-2 overall and 12-1 in conference, a game and a half up on MTU in the standings.
 
Michigan Tech got out to an early 7-5 lead, but that was the last time they would be in front, as Paige Vanstee came down and tied the game with a putback, then put GVSU out front with another offensive rebound putback, hitting the free throw as a bonus. Ellie Droste just beat the buzzer to end the quarter, as her layup put the Lakers up 14-11 after one.
 
The Huskies cut it within one at 14-13, but GVSU responded with a 15-1 scoring run, getting back-to-back threes from Emily Spitzley and Nicole Kamin. Two free throws from MTU ended the run, but Droste once again hit a shot just before the buzzer, this one putting the Lakers up 31-16 at the break.
 
After the lead was cut down to 14 points, Abrie Cabana responded with a wing three, then Hannah Kulas hit two threes in a span of 40 seconds to put the Lakers up 19. For the third consecutive quarter, the Lakers beat the final buzzer, this time with Rylie Bisballe putting home a layup to put the Lakers up 20 at 47-27.
 
Vanstee hit two free throws to open the fourth quarter and give Grand Valley their largest lead of the game at 22 points. The Huskies scored four straight to cut it down to 18, but couldn't get any closer as the Lakers hit big shots down the stretch to hold their lead and increase their lead in the conference standings.
 
Paige Vanstee led the way for the Lakers with 13 points, while also grabbing six rebounds, five of which were on the offensive glass. Ellie Droste added 10 points on 4-5 shooting and Hannah Kulas had eight points. Hadley Miller recorded seven rebounds as the Lakers outrebounded the Huskies 39-27.
 
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The Lakers stay at home Saturday to celebrate Sawyer's Day against Northern Michigan at 1pm.