MIDLAND, MICH. – The GVSU women's basketball team closed out 2024 with their final game of the year, heading up to Northwood. After a close first quarter, the Lakers pulled away from the Timberwolves to close out a 76-45 win. GVSU will head into the new year ranked number one in the country, sitting at 12-1.
 
The first quarter was back-and-forth for the whole 10 minutes, with seven lead changes in the quarter. The Lakers led by as much as three points in the period, but the Timberwolves never let them get a big advantage, always battling back. With time winding down in the period and Northwood up by one, Paige Vanstee hit a layup to put GVSU up 20-19 and end the opening quarter.
 
The Timberwolves answered back and retook the lead early in the second quarter. However, it wouldn't last long, as Kathryn Schmidt hit a layup to start an 18-3 Laker run to end the quarter. Nicole Kamin hit a three during the run and Abrie Cabana scored eight straight points to help the Lakers go up 40-26 at the break.
 
The Lakers continued the scoring run into the second half, beginning on a 10-3 run to get their lead up to 50-29. Northwood got their deficit back below 20, until a MacKenzie Bisballe layup got it back above 20 for good and began an 8-0 Laker run to end the quarter, putting GVSU ahead 65-39 after three.
 
In the fourth quarter, Cabana hit another three, her third of the day, and the Lakers hit their free throws to finish out the win.
 
Abrie Cabana tallied a career-high 21 points to lead all scorers, shooting 7-11 from the field and hitting three triples. Ellie Droste scored 13 points, with Nicole Kamin adding nine points and eight rebounds. Rylie Bisballe had eight points and seven boards, while Paige Vanstee had six points and six rebounds. The Lakers won the rebounding battle 44-28 and forced 18 Timberwolves turnovers.
 
Up Next
The Lakers are off until the new year when the return to GLIAC play, welcoming Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan to Allendale on January 2^nd and 4^th.