ALLENDALE, MICH. – The Grand Valley State women's basketball team punched their ticket to Monday's Regional Championship game with a 90-70 victory over Wayne State in the semifinals. The win moved GVSU to 32-1 and on to their fifth straight regional championship game, where they will take on Northwood.
 
After the Warriors got the first basket of the game, Molly Anderson buried a triple to start an 11-0 Laker run, forcing a Wayne State timeout. Coming out of that reset, the Warriors started to chip away, getting within two points at 14-12. The Lakers went back up by four points, but WSU went on an 8-2 run to end the quarter to take a 20-18 lead into the second period.
 
The Warriors got their advantage up to four points early in the second quarter, but a three from Nicole Kamin quickly got it back to one point at 24-23. Wayne State again went back up by four a few minutes later, up 31-27, after hitting a three of their own. GVSU once again answered back, going on a 20-9 run over the final 5:23 of the half. Avery Zeinstra made two three-pointers and Kamin finished it off with a buzzer-beating floater from the free line that put the Lakers up 47-40 at the half.
 
Wayne State was back within four less than a minute into the second half, but MacKenzie Bisballe hit a layup, then Lexi Plitzuweit connected from deep to push the lead up to nine. Kamin found VanStee on a fastbreak for a layup to give the Lakers their first double-digit lead of the game at 56-45. The lead grew to as much as 15 in the quarter, before a late Warrior three got them within 12 at 66-54 heading to the fourth.
 
Zeinstra connected on two more from beyond the arc early in the fourth quarter to push the Laker advantage up to 75-59. She would bury her fifth of the game a few minutes later, putting GVSU up by 16 points. The Warriors had one final run in them, getting it back to a 12-point game, but the Lakers hit six free throws as part of an 8-0 game-ending run to secure their spot in the regional championship.
 
MacKenzie Bisballe had another big performance, posting 21 points, nine boards, and five blocks. Nicole Kamin had 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Paige VanStee tallied her sixth double-double of the season, notching 18 points and 12 rebounds, nine coming on the offensive end. Avery Zeinstra was one fire from deep, burying five three-pointers to finish with 16 points. Molly Anderson dished out seven assists and added five points.
 
Up Next
The Lakers will play Northwood on Monday night with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. Tip is scheduled for 7:00 in the Fieldhouse.