BILLINGS, MONT. – The GVSU women's basketball team begins their season this weekend at the D2CCA Tip Off at the Trailhead tournament out in Montana. The Lakers play Findlay, Montana State Billings, and Union over the three-day event.
Tournament Central
Findlay:
Live Stats |
Video | Friday, 11:00 AM EST
MSBU:
Live Stats |
Video | Saturday, 3:00 PM EST
Union:
Live Stats |
Video | Sunday, 11:00 AM EST
GVSU is coming off a season in which they went 31-3, winning both the GLIAC regular season and tournament Championships. Head coach
Mike Williams returns almost his entire rotation from last season, while adding six freshmen and a graduate transfer to the roster. Leading the way is All-American
Rylie Bisballe, who averaged over 13 points and seven rebounds. Also back are All-GLIAC selections
Nicole Kamin,
Paige Vanstee, and
Hadley Miller, along with starters
Abrie Cabana,
Lexi Plitzuweit, and
Ellie Droste, who all made over 15 starts. The Lakers were selected first in the GLIAC preseason poll and were voted third in the WBCA national poll.
Findlay and GVSU will meet up for the fourth straight season. The Lakers have come out victorious in all three of those meetings, two in blowout fashion, but last year was a close 58-53 win at Findlay. The Oilers return their top two scorers from a season ago in Kate Ellie and Alyssa Ziehler, both of whom averaged double figures. They return one other starter, guard Janae Hoying and key bench player MacKenzie Schultz. Findlay was 14-15 last season, going 10-10 in GMAC play. They were selected to finish third in the league's preseason poll.
On Saturday, the Lakers will play host Montana State Billings. The Yellowjackets were 28-7 last year, advancing the Round of 16. MSBU was picked sixth in the WBCA preseason poll and are coming off a GNAC regular season title. They return two all-conference selections in Dyuani Boyce and Kortney Nelson and preseason selection Aspen Giese. The Yellowjackets and Lakers have never played before.
In the final game of the tournament, GVSU will take on another top ranked team, facing off against number eight Union. The Bulldogs are coming off a 29-4 season, getting upset in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Leading the returning crew is sisters Olivia and Macey Lee. Macey was the team's second leading scorer at over 12 a game, while Olivia averaged just over nine. Union added three Division I transfers this offseason, all who played significant time at their previous stop. This matchup will also mark the first time these two teams have met up in program history.
All three games will be available to follow along with via live stats and live stream. For full coverage follow along on social media @gvsuwbb and online at GVSUlakers.com.
