ALLENDALE, MICH. – The top-ranked GVSU women's basketball team continues their homestand this weekend with matchups against SVSU on Thursday and Wayne State on Saturday. The Lakers host the Cardinals Thursday night for 616 Night and Saturday against Wayne State is Alumni Day.
 
SVSU: Live Stats | Video | 6:00
Wayne State: Live Stats | Video | 1:00
 
For 616 Night on Thursday, the Lakers will wear special uniforms to pay homage to the 616 and 500 hats will be given to students pregame. On Saturday it is both Alumni Day and Hawaiian Day. For Hawaiian Day, the first 500 students will receive Hawaiian shirts at the gates.
 
Grand Valley is the only team undefeated in GLIAC play after taking down Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan last weekend. The Lakers put on a defensive clinic against the Huskies, holding them to only 30 points to win by 44 points. Ellie Droste scored 13 points to lead the way, as Rylie Bisballe and Megan Crow each added 12 points. Against the Wildcats, the Lakers trailed by seven after the first quarter and by one at the half, but they outscored NMU 34-15 in second half to pull away for the 64-47 win. Bisballe and Nicole Kamin each scored a season-high 16 points in the win.
 
At 12-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play, the Lakers claimed the number one spot in both the coaches poll and media poll. They boast the nation's second-best scoring defense, allowing just 48 points a game and opponents shoot just 33.3% percent on them. They also clean up the glass with over 42 a game, and they have the best rebound margin in the country, pulling down 14 more rebounds than their opponents. Six Lakers average more than eight points per game led by Droste's 12.8 a contest.
 
Last season, GVSU won all three games against the Cardinals, beating them twice in the regular season and once in the GLIAC Tournament semifinals. The two regular season matchups went the way of the Lakers by the scores of 71-32 and 72-53, before winning the tournament game 87-48. Bisballe, Droste, Paige Vanstee, and Nicole Kamin all scored in double-figures in at least one of the meetings of the season.
 
SVSU is 4-10 this season, including 1-3 in league play. The Cardinals beat Parkside last weekend for their first conference win, while losing to Michigan Tech and NMU the first weekend and Purdue Northwest last Saturday. Thus far, they have been outscored by almost three points a game, as they are only averaging 58.9 ppg, shooting 38.6% from the field. Aleshia Jones is the lone Cardinal in double-figures, scoring 13 points per contest, and she is second in rebounding with five a game.
 
The Lakers are on an 18-game winning streak against Wayne State, beating them last season 81-44 in Allendale and 79-60 on the road. Kamin scored 12.5 ppg in the two matchups, while Bisballe had 10.5, and Lexi Plitzuweit also scored 10 points in the home game.
 
Wayne State is off to a 9-4 start to the year, sitting at 2-2 in conference play, splitting both of their first two weekends. They beat Michigan Tech and lost to Northern Michigan in the first weekend, and then beat PNW and got beat by Parkside last weekend. Three Warriors are scoring double-figures this season, paced by Shea Tripp's 13.5, while Gabi Lutchka is averaging 11.3, and Becca Fugate is scoring 10.2 a game. They have been getting to the charity stripe more often than any other team in the GLIAC this year, shooting almost 18 free throws a game, making around 14 per contest.
 
How to Follow
Both games will have live stats, live video, and they will be able to be heard on the radio as well. Thursday's game will also be available to be seen on Grand Rapids WXSP (Channel 15). For full coverage of the game, including live in-game updates, follow @gvsuwbb on Twitter and visit gvsulakers.com.