Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

Grand Valley State held onto a seven point lead with just seven minutes left in the game, but it wasn't enough as they dropped a 64-62 decision at West Michigan rival Ferris State Saturday night. The Lakers drop to 21-6 overall and 14-4 in GLIAC play. GVSU has earned the #1 seed in the GLIAC North Division and will host a GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal game on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 6:00 p.m. in the GVSU Fieldhouse against a team to be determined.

Junior guard Crystal Zick started off the game with a three-pointer and a layup to give the Lakers a 5-2 lead. Back-to-back jumpers and a free throw by senior center Julia Braseth put GVSU up six points, 12-6 at the 13:57 mark. Ferris State tied the game at 12-12, but another Zick three-pointer and two Laker layups gave GVSU a 19-12 lead. The Lakers increased their lead to nine points on a jumper by Zick.

Ferris State went on a run, cutting GVSU's lead to four points with 4:09 left in the first half, but senior gaurd Erika Ryskamp made a layup in the paint to put the Lakers ahead, 29-23. The Bulldogs scored the next 10 out of 12 points, including a layup with one second left to take a 33-31 halftime lead.

Ferris State pushed its lead to four points early in the second half, but a three-pointer by senior guard Taushauna Churchwell gave the Lakers a 45-43 lead at the 13:18 mark. FSU tied the game at 47-47, but five straight Laker points put them ahead, 52-47 with 11:27 left. Braseth scored six straight points to give GVSU its largest lead of the second half, a seven point margin, 60-53, with just 7:25 remaining in the game. Ferris State scored nine straight points to take a 64-60 lead with 2:09 left in the game. A layup by Braseth cut the lead to 64-62 with 1:01 remaining and a missed three-pointer by Ferris State gave the Lakers the ball back. Sam Johns blocked Erika Ryskamp shot with 15 seconds left, but GVSU got the offensive deadball rebound. Zick missed a layup with one second left, giving the Bulldogs the 64-62 win.

Senior center Julia Braseth led the Lakers with 22 points, two rebounds, and two steals, while junior guard Crystal Zick added 14 points and three assists. Senior guard Erika Ryskamp recorded 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal and senior guard Taushauna Churchwell added 11 points, five rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Junior guard Erin Cyplik tallied a game-high nine rebounds and added two points.