GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – Tipping off the final week of the regular season, the Grand Valley State women's basketball team headed to Davenport for the Crosstown Showdown. The new number two team in the country played like their ranking, defeating the Panthers 87-52. Now 26-1 overall and 18-1 in GLIAC play, the Lakers have clinched a share of the GLIAC regular season title, with a chance to win it outright on Thursday.
 
The two teams were tied at seven through the first four minutes of action until back-to-back layups from Lexi Plitzuweit and Paige VanStee put the Lakers up by four. After the Panthers got back within one, GVSU went on a 6-2 run to end the quarter, leading 19-14.
 
Nicole Kamin got things started in the second quarter, draining a three on the Lakers' opening possession. A mid-quarter 8-0 Laker run pushed the GVSU advantage up to 37-20. The lead would grow by one heading into the halftime break, the Lakers up 42-24.
 
Davenport started the second half cutting their deficit down to 15, but another Kamin triple ignited a 9-0 Laker run to push the lead back above 20. Their lead would never dip below 20 the rest of the way, the score being 63-39 after three quarters.
 
The advantage grew to 30 following a triple from Sydney Cherney two minutes into the fourth period. Lauren Slagle would continue the barrage from deep, with two three-pointers, then one more from to end the game from Emersen Berndt made it a 35-point advantage, the largest of the game.
 
MacKenzie Bisballe led the way with her third double-double of the season, posting 19 points and 11 rebounds, hitting nine of her 14 shot attempts. Paige VanStee, Nicole Kamin, and Lauren Slagle all had 10 points. Lexi Plitzuweit recorded six points, eight boards, and six assists. GVSU dominated on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 51-26, grabbing 20 offensive boards.
 
Up Next
The Lakers close out the regular season Thursday evening. They are set to host Ferris State at 5:30 in the Fieldhouse Arena.