March 5, 2006

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State senior forward Niki Reams scored a game-high 27 points, while sophomore forward Erin Cyplik added 14 points and eight rebounds to lead the Lakers to their second straight GLIAC Tournament Championship. Grand Valley State will now receive the automatic bid into the NCAA DII Great Lakes Regional with the tourney title.

GVSU opened the game with an 18-2 run and led by as many as 21 points (34-13) in the opening half. The Laker defense forced Ashland into five turnovers before the Eagles scored their first points of the game on a Lisa Graue jumper from the left wing. Reams scored 15 points in the first stanza, while Cyplik added nine in the scoring column.

Ashland came out strong in the second half and cut the Laker lead down to eight (40-32) on a three-pointer by Grau at the 17:34 mark. However, the Lakers answered with a Reams three and a layup by Crystal Zick. GVSU led led 46-35 when Erika Ryskamp hit a three, followed by a Reams three to put GVSU up 52-35. AU hit a pair from the charity stripe, but Reams hit a free throw, followed by a jumper by Zick to give GVSU a 60-37 lead. The Lakers built their largest lead of the game (26 points) on a layup by freshman guard Jenny Stephen at the 4:26 mark.

Reams hit 9-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-7 from three en route to 27 points. Cyplik added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Zick chipped in 12 points, four assists and two steals. Junior center Julia Braseth tallied a team-high 12 rebounds and scored five points. GVSU shot 51.8 percent from the floor and 50.0 percent from the three-point line. The Lakers held a 37-26 rebounding advantage. GVSU hit 57.1 percent from the floor in the second half.

Reams was named the GLIAC Tournament MVP for the second straight year, while Cyplik and Ryskamp were named to the All-Tournament team.

Notes...GVSU has posted a 55-9 (.854) record over the past two years, including a 50-5 mark in its last 55 games...The Laker women have tallied a 33-3 (.917) record in the GLIAC in the last two seasons...GVSU finished the season winning its last 13 GLIAC contests and have now won 16 straight games overall...GVSU also has a 6-game GLIAC Tournament winning streak...GVSU's 27 wins are the second-most in a single-season, one behind the record of 28 set last year...GVSU head coach Dawn Plitzuweit has guided GVSU to its three-highest single-season win totals in Laker women's basketball history. 24 in 2002-03; 27 in 2005-06; 28 in 2004-05...Plitzuweit is 90-24 (.787) as the head coach of the Lakers.