ALLENDALE, MICH. – The top-ranked GVSU women's basketball team will hit the road for the first time since mid-December, and the first time in GLIAC play, as they travel to LSSU and Ferris State. It will be the matchup of the two Lakers on Thursday night up across the bridge at 5:30, then Saturday will feature a battle of two top-10 teams at 1:00 in Big Rapids.
 
LSSU: Live Stats | Video | 5:30 PM
Ferris State: Live Stats | Video | 1:00 PM
 
Grand Valley remains unbeaten in conference play after beating SVSU and Wayne State last weekend. The Lakers moved to 14-1 overall and 5-0 in league play, one game in front of Ferris State and Parkside in the standings. GVSU maintained their spot as the second-best defensive team in the country, holding SVSU to just 38 points and Wayne State to 48, as they have now held seven consecutive opponents to less than 50 points. Anchoring that defense has been Rylie Bisballe, who was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. Bisballe averaged 19 points, 6.5 rebounds, while adding five steals and four blocks in the two wins.
 
Last season, the GVSU swept the two matchups to bring their series winning streak up to 17 consecutive games. Up in the Sault, Nicole Kamin scored 12 points and Ellie Droste added 11, as Grand Valley beat LSSU. Back in Allendale, Droste was red-hot, hitting seven three-pointers to finish with 23 points, with Kamin adding 10 in the 77-42 victory.
 
The Lakers of LSSU are at the bottom of the GLIAC standings, entering Thursday's game with a 1-13 record, and winless in conference play at 0-5. LSSU has lost four straight after picking up their lone victory of the year when the beat Illinois-Springfield. Center Grace Bradford has been a bright spot for the Lakers, leading the GLIAC in rebounding at 10.4 a contest, while she is tenth in scoring, averaging over 12 a game. Breah Golden is the only other Laker averaging double-figures, scoring 10 points a game, and dishing out two assists a game.
 
In the two matchups a season ago between GVSU and Ferris State, the Lakers were able to come out on top in both, winning 78-70 in Big Rapids, then won 72-55 in the final game of the regular season in Allendale. In the first matchup, Droste scored 13 points and Kamin added 11, as the Lakers held off a Bulldog comeback to take the matchup. The game in Allendale was much less intense, as GVSU led almost the entire game, only trailing briefly in the first quarter, to come away with another victory over their rival. Kamin had 12 points in the win and Bisballe added 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
Ferris State moved up to ninth in the country in the most recent WBCA poll after they went on the road to beat Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan this past weekend. The Bulldogs are 10-2 overall and 4-1 in league play, falling only to Parkside on the road in the opening weekend. They have one of the best nonconference wins in the nation, as they went on the road and beat Ashland 66-62 in the middle of December. GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year Chloe Idoni is playing like that honor, averaging 16.2 points on 48.6% shooting, and grabbing 6.7 rebounds, both leading the Bulldogs and top-10 in the conference. She is not alone offensively either, as Mallory McCartney is scoring over 11 a game, while making over 44% of her three-pointers, and Kadyn Blanchard is scoring 10.5 a contest. Ferris State is a perfect 3-0 at home this season, outscoring the opposition by over 32 a game in Big Rapids.
 
How to Follow
Both games will have live stats, live video, and they will be able to be heard on the radio as well. For full coverage of the game, including live in-game updates, follow @gvsuwbb on Twitter and visit gvsulakers.com.