March 22, 2006

Box Score

Hot Springs, Ark. - #10 Grand Valley State advanced to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals for the first time in school history with a 74-59 victory over #3 Charleson Wednesday (March 22) in Hot Springs, Arkansas. GVSU, 31-3 on the year, will play Chico State (28-3) in the second semifinal at 10:30 p.m. Thursday night. The game will be played live on ESPNU.

The Lakers used a 16-0 run midway through the second half to turn a 42-37 lead into a 58-37 advantage when junior guard Erika Ryskamp hit a three-pointer from the right corner. Charleston cut a nine-point Laker halftime lead down to five before senior All-American Niki Reams drilled a three-pointer from the left wing. Sophomore guard Crystal Zick hit another Laker three, before Reams scored in the paint to give GVSU 50-37 lead. Zick scored in the paint before Ryskamp hit back-to-back three-pointers to put GVSU up 21 (58-37) with 11:40 left in the game.

"I was really pleased with our effort and intensity," said fourth-year head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. "Charleston is an outstanding offensive team and I thought we really good job defended them with a lot of effort and we did an outstanding job rebounding," added Plitzuweit.

Grand Valley State took its first lead of the game on a Julia Braseth putback in the paint at the 17:33 mark and never trailed again. GVSU led 19-13 when Braseth started a 9-0 run with a three-pointer. Reams added a pair of buckets in the paint and Zick hit a 15-foot jumper to give the Lakers a 28-13 lead. Charleston cut the Laker lead to seven (38-31) before Braseth scored in the paint with four seconds left in the first half to give GVSU a 40-31 lead at the half.

Julia Braseth led GVSU with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Crystal Zick added 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Niki Reams chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds and Erin Cyplik added a team-high nine caroms. The Laker defense limited Charleston to 21 points below its 80.4 points per game average and forced 21 UC turnovers. GVSU scored 24 points off Charleston turnovers and limited them to just 35.5 percent shooting from the floor.

Notes...GVSU's 31 wins is a school-record...The Lakers have won 20 straight games...GVSU improves to 59-9 the last two years.