Historic Run Continues for Defending Champions

GRAND RAPIDS - Grand Valley State University women's basketball is headed to the NCAA Division II national championship game for the second consecutive year after defeating University of Alabama-Huntsville 61-39 in the NCAA Final Four on Thursday in Pittsburgh.

Paige VanStee delivered two buzzer-beaters to propel the defending champion Lakers to the NCAA Division II championship game for the second year in a row after a 61-39 win over the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Thursday, March 26, in Pittsburgh.

"We are excited to play another game. This place is going to be rocking," GVSU coach Mike Williams said. "To sustain something like this is really hard to do. To see what this group has been able to do, even with the pressure on, has been pretty special."

GVSU (35-1) faces No. 2 Indiana Pennsylvania in Saturday's national championship game at 3 p.m. in Pittsburgh.

"We are a very competitive class and we have been so close and connected. We have a lot of love for each other and that helps us do great things. We are so hungry and competitive to get to the last game," said senior Nicole Kamin.

The last Division II team to repeat in back-to-back years was Cal Poly Pomona in 2001-02. It has only happened six times in history if you count Lubbock Christian winning on either side of the canceled COVID-19 season in 2019 and 2021.

"It is knowing what it takes. Everyone talks about how hard it is to get here. We know how hard it was to get back to this moment," Kamin said.

VanStee, who scored 21 points, sank shots at the halftime buzzer and third-quarter buzzer. She scored four points in the final 20 seconds with two free throws then a basket at the buzzer after a steal by MacKenzie Bisballe.

Bisballe had 13 rebounds in the first half, including eight on the offensive end, helping the Lakers who shot just 25 percent in the first half, including 0-for-7 from 3-point range.

GVSU was plus-20 for rebounds in the first half.

In the second half, Kamin hit the team's first 3-pointer with 6:37 to go in the third after the Lakers started 0-for-9. Kamin helped by starting 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

Meanwhile, the Lakers continued to pound the ball inside to VanStee and Bisballe, who each scored as GVSU led 47-33 after three quarters.

In the fourth, Ava Scanlon used her strength to convert a three-point play and Molly Anderson drained a 3-pointer. Scanlon scored again on a putback and pushed the GVSU lead to 55-35 with 5:59 to go.

Bisballe and Kamin each had 13 points. Bisballe grabbed a stunning 19 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end. Kamin grabbed nine rebounds and had three assists. Scanlon had seven points and nine rebounds, including five on the offensive end.

GVSU had 29 offensive rebounds in the game and 60 altogether.

"We missed a lot of shots, but we got the second-chance points. We were relentless on the glass," Williams said. "That was probably the difference in the game."

The Lakers shot just 30 percent from the field and 12 percent from 3-point range (2-for-17), but the rebounding and going 17-for-19 from the free-throw line.

"We just kept going at them. Sometimes shots not falling is frustrating but it was important to not get frustrated and not give in," Kamin said.

UAH (32-6) was led by Lili Wilken with 14 points and Chloe Siegel with 12.

"They were shifty. (Wilken) had me going in every direction. But I love the challenge," Kamin said. Her teammates loved watching Kamin rise to that challenge.

"She can defend anybody as good as I have seen," VanStee said.

Wilken hit a few shots early, but then the GVSU defense rose to the occasion.

"They were as good as anyone we have played offensively because they keep you off-balance and they can bury the 3-pointers. But defensively, we were as solid as we have been," Williams said.

The Chargers shot 30 percent but got to the free-throw line just six times, making two.

"Grand Valley is really, really good. We haven't seen anything like that all year. We are usually (out-sized) but this is something we have never seen before," UAH coach Allen Sharpe said. "They will remember this (getting to the Final Four) for the rest of their lives."

Buzzer-Beaters a Theme for GVSU

The GVSU women's basketball team never stops until the buzzer sounds. That fight until the clock runs out has been huge for the Lakers all season, but especially in the postseason.

Avery Zeinstra hit a near-halfcourt shot at the third-quarter buzzer of the NCAA regional final. The game before, Nicole Kamin hit a floater at the halftime buzzer. Each energized the Lakers and led to the game-winning rally.

That happened again Thursday - twice - as Paige VanStee raced down the court and put up a layup off the glass as the halftime buzzer sounded to put the Lakers up 29-22. VanStee scored again at the third-quarter buzzer to put the Lakers up 47-33, and GVSU was a quarter away from the finals.

Key Stats

• GVSU finished with a 35-1 record
• VanStee scored 21 points with two buzzer-beaters
• Kamin added 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists
• Bisballe had 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 19 total rebounds
• Scanlon contributed 7 points and 9 rebounds
• GVSU had 60 total rebounds in the game
• Lakers shot 17-for-19 from the free-throw line

Looking Ahead

Saturday's national championship game against No. 2 Indiana Pennsylvania will determine the NCAA Division II national champion. GVSU has built a reputation as a difficult team to beat, combining size, depth, and an unrelenting mindset.

The Lakers return to the national championship game in consecutive years, joining an elite group of programs that have sustained excellence in Division II basketball.

Sources

• Holland Sentinel - GVSU women's basketball wins in Final Four to reach NCAA championship