ALLENDALE, MICH. – The Midwest region's top-seeded GVSU women's basketball team began the NCAA Tournament this afternoon with a matchup with the eighth seed Trevecca Nazarene. It was a slow start for the Lakers, but they picked it up in the second half, outscoring the Trojans 42-13 over the final 20 minutes to advance with a 63-25 victory.
 
It was a quick start for the Lakers, as they went up 11-3 early, ignited by a Lexi Plitzuweit triple. Trevecca came back and made it a two-point game at 11-9 to get back in the game. The Lakers scored the final three points of the quarter to lead 14-9 after one.
 
The Trojans began the second quarter on an 8-2 run to take their first lead at 17-16. They would lead the rest of the half, going up by as much as four, but Avery Zeinstra hit a three right before the end of the half to bring it to one point, at 22-21.
 
Grand Valley dominated the third quarter, outscoring TNU 25-6 over those 10 minutes. The Lakers began on a 13-0 run to take a 34-22 lead less than five minutes into the quarter. They hit five three-pointers in the quarter and took a commanding 46-38 lead into the final period.
 
Zeinstra started the fourth quarter with another triple to bring the Laker lead above 20 points. Trevecca Nazarene was never able to get their deficit below 20 points the rest of the way, as GVSU was able to cruise into the semifinals.
 
Abrie Cabana paced the Laker offense with 12 points, with Rylie Bisballe recording her fifth double-double of the year. She had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks. Paige Vanstee scored eight points and pulled down seven boards. Lexi Plitzuweit and Hadley Miller each scored seven points, with Pliztuweit grabbing seven rebounds and Miller adding five. Ava Scanlon grabbed eight rebounds off the bench.
 
Up Next
GVSU takes on a familiar foe in the semifinals, playing fourth-seeded Northern Michigan tomorrow night at 7:30.