PITTSBURGH, PENN. – For the second straight season, the Grand Valley State women's basketball team prepares for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. The Lakers will play their quarterfinal game Tuesday night at UMP Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, taking on Carson-Newman.
 
Tournament Central
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Radio | Tickets | Tuesday | 6:00
 
The Lakers are in their sixth Elite Eight, and third in the past five seasons. Last year in Pittsburgh, the Lakers took home the National Championship, defeating Gannon, Pittsburg State, and California State-Dominguez Hills to take the crown. They are looking to become the first team since Cal Poly Pomona in 2001 and 2002, to championships in consecutive seasons. Dating back to last season, GVSU has won 15 straight postseason games, six in the GLIAC Tournament, and nine in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Just like last season, the Lakers are the top-ranked team in the field, taking on eight-seeded Carson-Newman in the opening round. GVSU got to this point by defeating Maryville, Wayne State, and Northwood in the Midwest Regional Tournament. Paige VanStee was named the Tournament Most Outstanding Player after putting up 30 points in the championship game. She was the first player to score 30 or more points in a game since Emily Spitzley back in 2022. Nicole Kamin was a member of the All-Tournament team, averaging 16 points a game, making eight total three-pointers.
 
Carson-Newman will be making their second ever trip to the Elite Eight, last making it during the 2017-18 campaign. To reach Pittsburgh, the Eagles took down three nationally ranked teams in the Southeast Regional Tournament. They defeated #12 Columbus State in the first round, then beat #15 and the top seed in the region Lincoln Memorial in round two, before taking down #18 Lenoir-Rhyne in the championship game. The Lakers will be the 12^th ranked opponent this year for the Eagles, who have put up a record of 6-5 in those contests. C-N has one of the best offenses in the country, pouring in 77.3 points per game, drilling almost nine triples a game. Led by First-Team All-SAC selection Jennifer Sullivan, who scores more than 17 points a game, the Eagles have three players who average double-figures. This will be the first ever meeting between these two programs.
 
How To Follow
Tuesday's game will be available to follow along with via live stats or live stream on ESPN+. You can also listen live on the radio on The Ticket. For full coverage, follow along on social media @gvsuwbb and online at GVSUlakers.com.