ALLENDALE, MICH. – With 17 seconds left, Paige VanStee hit a go-ahead layup to put Grand Valley State up 81-80, then the Laker defense held off Wayne State to earn their 13^th victory of the season. GVSU sits alone atop the GLIAC standings at 5-0, at least one game up on everyone else.
 
With the two teams tied at four early in the first quarter, Grand Valley State went on a 9-2 run to open a 13-6 lead, with Anayya Davis capping it off with a triple. The Lakers continued to lead late in the period, up 23-17, but Wayne State battled back, closing the quarter on a 7-1 run to tie it at 24 after 10 minutes.
 
The Warriors took their first lead of the day with a 5-0 run to begin the second quarter, leading 29-24. Five straight points from Sydney Cherney tied it at 29, but Wayne State immediately responded with six consecutive points of their own to lead 35-29. A layup from Ava Scanlon and three points from Nicole Kamin brought GVSU within one at the half, 35-34.
 
The two teams traded baskets, as the Lakers tied the game at 38 less than two minutes into the second half. Wayne State responded once again, with a 12-2 run to take a 10-point lead, their largest of the day. GVSU kept battling back to get within four, getting three three-pointers from Lexi Plitzuweit, including the final one with 41 seconds left to make it 63-59 headed into the fourth quarter.
 
Another triple from Plitzuweit tied the game at 66 at the 8:54 mark of the fourth quarter. The Warriors would not go away, re-taking the lead on the very next possession, and holding it for the next three and a half minutes. The Lakers got the lead back for the first time in the fourth quarter following two Plitzuweit free throws, leading 74-73. The two teams traded baskets over the next four minutes, with the Warriors up 78-77. VanStee would knock down a couple of free throws with a 1:50 to play, to give the Lakers the lead once again. Both defenses would get stops, then Taylor Thompson hit a jumper for the Warriors with 20 seconds left, putting them up 80-79.
 
Grand Valley State called timeout after the basket, advancing the ball to halfcourt. Plitzuweit found Molly Anderson in the corner, who hit a cutting VanStee for a layup from the left side. With 17 seconds to play, Wayne State got one final possession, but GVSU knocked the ball away and time ran out before the Warriors could get a shot off.
 
Lexi Plitzuweit went off for a career-high 20 points, hitting four three-pointers, adding six rebounds. Paige VanStee scored 18 points and had eight boards, while Nicole Kamin totaled 17 points, five assists, and four steals.
 
Up Next
The Lakers continue their homestand on Saturday, hosting Purdue Northwest for a 1:00 tip.