March 8, 2003

Box Score

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. - #19 Grand Valley State advanced to the GLIAC Tournament Championship game for the first time in school history, however, the result was not what the Lakers were looking for as host and number-one seeded Lake Superior State captured a 67-60 victory over GVSU Saturday night in the title game. Grand Valley State (24-6) will now await a bid into the NCAA DII National Tournament Sunday night.

GVSU and LSSU notched seven lead changes and three ties in opening 20 minutes, but the Soo Lakers went into the half with a 25-24 lead. Grand Valley took a 29-27 lead early in the second half on a Jennifer Nielsen three-pointer, but LSSU regained the lead on an Alice Duesing layup just over a minute later and the Soo Lakers would never relinquish the lead. Duesing, who was named tournament MVP, scored 21 second-half points after playing just two minutes in the first half because of four trouble.

Julie Zeeff led GVSU with 15 points and five rebounds, while Nielsen added 14 points, including four three-pointers. Nielsen became the GVSU single-season leader (63) in three-pointers with her third trey, passing former Laker Amy Rehmann's 61. Cori Jewett and Laurie Rehmann each chipped in 11 points. GVSU shot just 35.7 percent from the floor and was outrebounded 40-30. Zeeff and Rehmann were both named to the GLIAC All-Tournament Team.