ALLENDALE, MICH. – Once again, the Grand Valley State women's basketball team are the top of the Midwest Region. The Lakers won their third regional title in the last five seasons, defeating Northwood 69-59 in the championship game. The victory punches their ticket to the Elite Eight in Pittsburgh next week.
With Northwood holding a 9-6 lead four minutes into the first quarter,
Ava Scanlon hit a layup through contact, adding the free throw to tie the game. That started a 7-0 Laker run, putting them up 13-9. Northwood used a 7-2 run to end the quarter, leading 16-15 after 10 minutes.
The Lakers battled back to take a 24-23 lead midway through the second quarter.
Paige VanStee would go on a personal 6-0 run to give GVSU their largest lead of the day at 30-23. The lead stayed at seven points going into the half, with the Lakers up 34-27.
After Grand Valley State pushed their lead up to 10 points off a
Nicole Kamin triple to start the half, Northwood went on a 13-5 run to cut their deficit to two points, making it 42-40. Kamin buried her third three-pointer of the quarter to end the run, then VanStee tallied five more points in a row, making the score 52-44. The Timberwolves got a bucket back, but
Avery Zeinstra hit a logo three at the buzzer to give GVSU a nine-point lead heading to the fourth quarter.
GVSU carried that momentum into the final period, starting on a 10-2 run, pushing their lead to 65-48. The Timberwolves made a late run, cutting their deficit to 10 points, but the Laker defense did not allow a point over the final 2:22 of the game, sealing their second straight regional crown.
Paige VanStee earned the Tournament Most Outstanding player after posting a career-high 30 points, hitting 11-15 from the field, and grabbing seven rebounds.
Nicole Kamin totaled 18 points, drilling four three-pointers, and was selected to the All-Tournament team.
MacKenzie Bisballe tallied six points and six rebounds.
Up Next
The Lakers will travel to Pittsburgh for next week's Elite Eight. The first game will be played out Tuesday. The opponent will be determained later this week.
