ALLENDALE, MICH. – After taking a 10-day break for the holidays, the top-ranked Grand Valley State women's basketball team will be back in action this week. The Lakers will begin 2026 across the bridge playing Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan.
 
MTU: Live Stats | Video | Radio | Friday | 1:00 PM
NMU: Live Stats | Video | Radio | Saturday | 1:00 PM
 
In their final game before the holiday break, the Lakers destroyed Aquinas 93-21. GVSU raced out to a 29-0 start and never let the Saints into the game. They held Aquinas to 16.7% shooting from the field and won the rebounding battle by 19. Five players reached double-figures in the game, led by Avery Lay and Emersen Berndt, each with 11. The win moved them to 10-0 on the season, giving them 23 straight wins dating back to last season. Also in the game, Nicole Kamin became the sixth player in program history to reach 200 career steals, and she sits one point shy of 1,000 for her career. By scoring 93 points in the game, GVSU reached at least 90 points for the third straight game, the longest stretch of scoring 90 points since the 1997-98 season in which they did it in five straight games.
 
2026 will open in Houghton, Michigan as the Huskies of Michigan Tech will welcome in GVSU. Tech is 8-2 this season, winning their first four games, then dropping two straight, before rebounding to win the previous four contests. Led by Ella Mason's 14.9 points per game, the Huskies have a balanced offense, with five players averaging at least nine points. They rank in the top 40 nationally in all three shooting categories, sixth in free throw percentage, 18^th in three-point percentage, and 39^th in field goal percentage. Their defense allows just over 63 points per game, and they have won the rebounding battle in eight of their 10 games. Michigan Tech is one of the best teams at taking care of the ball, only turning it over 12.5 time a game, ranking fifth nationally.
 
On Saturday, the Lakers will face their first ranked opponent of the season, facing the 14^th-ranked Wildcats. NMU is 11-1 this season, dropping a game to Minnesota Duluth, but they have won five straight since then. They are one of four GLIAC teams undefeated in league play, defeating both Parkside and Roosevelt on the road. Northern Michigan has the second-best scoring defense in the conference, behind GVSU, allowing 61.7 points per game. They pair that with the third-best scoring offense, averaging 74 points a contest. Offensively, they are led by reigning GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week Jacy Weisbrod, who is averaging a league high 18.7 points per game. The Wildcats have played one ranked opponent all season, defeating number five Gannon 60-58 in the second game of the season.
 
How to Follow
Both games this weekend will be available to follow along with via live stats or live stream through FloSports. You can also listen live on the radio on The Ticket, Thunder Country, and WLCS. For full coverage, follow along on social media @gvsuwbb and online at GVSUlakers.com.