MARQUETTE, MICH. – The top-ranked Grand Valley State women's basketball team took on number 12 Northern Michigan in a battle of the two ranked GLIAC teams. GVSU built up a big lead heading into the fourth quarter, and withstood a Wildcat comeback, to come away with a 78-66 victory. The Lakers are now 12-0 to begin the season and 4-0 in the conference.
 
After the Wildcats scored the first bucket of the game, the Lakers went on a 7-0 run, capped off by a Nicole Kamin and-1. NMU got back within one point at 9-8, but three straight Laker layups put them up by seven. The two teams traded baskets through the end of the quarter, ending with GVSU up 21-18.
 
Northern Michigan tied the ball game at 21 on their opening possession of the second quarter. The game remained tied at 25 apiece, when GVSU went on an 11-2 run, making it 36-27. NMU hit a layup to end the run, but Lexi Plitzuweit buried one from deep just before the half to put the Lakers up 39-29 at the break.
 
Kamin drilled another three-pointer to open the second half to continue the Laker scoring run. Grand Valley State continued to build up their lead throughout the third quarter, getting seven more points from Kamin and five from MacKenzie Bisballe to lead 58-40 heading to the fourth quarter.
 
The Lakers pushed their lead up to 20 points early in the fourth quarter off an Ava Scanlon layup. The lead stayed at 20 at the 6:46 mark, when the Wildcats started to chip away. Northern Michigan went on a 16-2, cutting their deficit to six points at 67-61 with just over two minutes to play. Avery Zeinstra ended the run with a deep three, then Plituzuweit and Molly Anderson iced the game away from the free throw line and cap off the 2-0 weekend.  
 
MacKenzie Bisballe recorded her first double-double of the season, totaling 20 points and 10 boards, adding three blocks. Nicole Kamin posted a season-high 20 points, hitting a three of her triple attempts, while notching five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Lexi Plitzuweit had 12 points and six boards, while Avery Zeinstra posted 10 points. Paige VanStee pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds, adding eight points.
 
Up Next
GVSU returns home for a four-game homestand. It starts on Thursday with a matchup against Wayne State. The game is scheduled for 5:30.