Grand Valley State is back on top. For the first time since '06, the Lakers are NCAA Division II National Champions, dismantling Cal State Dominguez Hills 70-58. This wasn't just a win; it was a statement. A 38-2 record? That's not a season; that's a legacy.
Let's break down the numbers, because they're staggering. GLIAC regular season and tournament champs? Check. Midwest Regional champs? Check. Leading the nation in scoring margin at 30.3 points? Yeah, they did that too. This team didn't just win; they obliterated.
Early Jitters, Late Dominance:
CSUDH came out swinging, pressing hard and jumping to a 7-2 lead. But GVSU, ice-cold and focused, settled in. Ellie Droste sparked a 7-0 run, and the Lakers took a 17-12 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter? Pure Lakers' mastery. A 9-1 run blew the game open, and the lead swelled to 19. At halftime, it was 38-21, and the writing was on the wall.
The second half started with a 9-0 Lakers' surge, pushing the lead to a monstrous 26. But CSUDH showed some fight, chipping away with a 17-6 run in the third. Still, GVSU held a 53-38 lead heading into the final frame.
CSUDH tried to rally, cutting the deficit to 12. But Paige Vanstee and Rylie Bisballe responded with clutch plays, pushing the lead back to 17. Even a late 13-6 Toros run couldn't derail the Lakers. Ellie Droste and Abrie Cabana iced the game from the free-throw line.
Player Performances That Shined:
Rylie Bisballe, Tournament MVP: 13 points, 6 boards, 3 assists, 3 steals. She was everywhere.
MacKenzie Bisballe, All-Tournament Team: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals. A force.
Ellie Droste: 11 points, clutch down the stretch.
Nicole Kamin, All-Tournament Team: 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 points, did all the little things.
And let's give a shoutout to the graduating seniors – Rylie Bisballe, Hadley Miller, Ellie Droste, Abrie Cabana, and Kathryn Schmidt. 145 wins? That's a hall-of-fame career. Four GLIAC regular season titles, three GLIAC tournament titles, two Midwest Regional Championships, and now, a national title.
GVSU didn't just win a championship; they stamped their authority on the entire Division II landscape. This team was special, and they proved it on the biggest stage.
