As the final seconds ticked away, the joy began to spread across the faces of the Grand Valley State women’s basketball team.
The Lakers defended their NCAA Division II Championship to close a remarkable season that saw them perform under intense pressure, from outside and from within, to repeat – every game with a target on their backs.
That was the case in the championship game and the top-ranked Lakers, like they have all season, used determination to transform the pressure into a jubilant conclusion, beating No. 4 Indiana University-Pennsylvania 72-49 on Saturday, March 28, in Pittsburgh.
“It is so special. It is such a blessing to be in this position with these girls,” GVSU senior Nicole Kamin. “There have been so many emotions throughout this whole week. We knew this was our last game (as seniors) and we just put it all out there.”
The last Division II team to repeat in back-to-back years before GVSU (36-1) 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.
“We knew we were pretty good early in the year, but it was never talked about (repeating) once. I never heard it from the players or even the parents,” GVSU coach Mike Williams said. “To see this group come together with these senior leaders is amazing. This group really loves each other. That is what special teams have.”
For the seniors, it didn’t need to be said. They were focused on each game and that got them to their historic goal.
It is GVSU’s third national title overall, also winning in 2006.
MacKenzie Bisballe scored 10 seconds into the game and GVSU started rolling. Kamin, Bisballe and Paige VanStee all followed with baskets following forced turnovers and the Lakers led 8-0 just 2 minutes into the game.
Molly Anderson nailed a 3-pointer and VanStee buried two free throws to push the GVSU lead to 17-8 after the first quarter.
“We knew we needed to jump on them right away. They are a great team and had their crowd,” VanStee said.
In the second quarter, the Lakers pounded the ball inside as Bisballe scored three baskets in a row, then Ava Scanlon converted a three-point play before Bisballe scored again in the paint, putting the Lakers up 41-24 at halftime.
“It helped that we came out aggressive. We have been in this moment before and I think you could see that from the start,” Kamin said.
Bisballe scored 14 points in the first half, grabbed five rebounds and blocked four shots. Meanwhile, Kamin had 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks as the fast-paced Lakers couldn’t be stopped.
Defensively, GVSU blocked eight shots in the first half and grabbed five steals.
While 3-pointers were still difficult to come back after a poor shooting NCAA semifinal, GVSU shot 61% from the field in the first half, pounding the ball inside and getting to the rim.
VanStee scored the first seven points of the third quarter after IUP started to come back, while the GVSU defense held IUP scoreless for more than 4 minutes.
Kamin wasn’t done. She nailed a 3-pointer to put the game out of reach and was named the NCAA Tournament MVP.
VanStee finished with 25 points and nine rebounds and was named to the all-tournament team. Kamin and Bisballe each had 18 points with Bisballe grabbing seven rebounds and blocking five shots and Kamin tallying five rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal.
Anderson and Scanlon had three points, while Zeinstra and Anayya Davis each scored two. Anderson tallied four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
“I can’t describe it. I knew I wasn’t going to go out on a loss. We were going to do anything to get it done,” VanStee said.
Teresa Maggio led IUP (31-3) with 20 points and was named to the all-tournament team.
Utter dominance by GVSU
The Lakers were on a mission all season, but especially once the postseason started.
GVSU wanted to prove they were the best two years in a row.
And they did in dominating fashion.
In the GLIAC tournament, the Lakers beat Lake Superior State by 44 points, No. 21 Northern Michigan by 28 and Ferris State by 21.
In the first three rounds of the NCAA regional, GVSU beat Maryville by 33, Wayne State by 20 and Northwood by 10 for the regional title.
On to the Elite Eight where GVSU be then at Carson-Newman by 48 – yes 48, then crushed No. 25 Alabama-Huntsville by 22, leading to the finals – and another dominating performance.
They won every game by double figures and won all but one game by 20 points or more.
Twice as nice
GVSU won its back-to-back title joining exclusive company.
Lubbock Christian won in 2019 and 2021 sandwiched around the canceled COVID-19 year but before that, the last true repeat title was Cal Poly Pomona in 2001-02.
North Dakota won three in a row from 1997-99 and North Dakota State won four in a row from 1993-96.
Delta State repeated in 1989-90 and Cal Poly Pomona again repeated in 1985-86.
That is it. GVSU is the seventh Division II team to win two national championships in a row.
Sensational seniors
The NCAA has never seen so many elite guards that GVSU has put on the court in the past two years.
After Ellie Droste, Hadley Miller and Abrie Cabana graduated last year, the Lakers had an even bigger group of seniors this year.
Kamin, Plitzuweit, Anderson, Nicole Zeinstra have been sensational along with guard-forward VanStee.
Five players who can handle the ball. Five leaders who kept their eye on the prize and led the Lakers to it once again.
The legacy they leave off the court is unquantifiable, but back-to-back titles leaves an amazing legacy for the Lakers.
“It is a great feeling to go out like this,” Zeinstra said.
GVSU coverage this season
Postseason
GVSU women’s basketball wins in Final Four to reach NCAA championship
GVSU women’s basketball beats Carson-Newman to reach Final Four
GVSU women’s basketball tops Northwood to reach NCAA Elite Eight again
GVSU women’s basketball beats Wayne State to advance in NCAA tourney
GVSU women’s basketball beats Wayne State to advance in NCAA tourney
Grand Valley State women’s basketball aims for NCAA title
GVSU women’s basketball beats Northern Michigan in GLIAC semifinals
GVSU women’s basketball beats Ferris State for GLIAC tournament title
Grand Valley State basketball teams advance in GLIAC tourney at GVSU
The players
Grand Valley State’s Lexi Plitzuweit and mother both won NCAA titles
GVSU basketball’s Avery Zeinstra is master of defense with quick feet
MacKenzie Bisballe, Ava Scanlon lead No. 1 GVSU past Northern Michigan
GVSU basketball’s NCAA title chance could hinge on Ava Scanlon
GVSU’s Paige VanStee reaches milestone in win over Roosevelt
Regular season
GVSU women’s basketball beats Ferris State for GLIAC championship
GVSU basketball wins GLIAC title with victory over Davenport
GVSU women’s basketball beats Lake Superior State behind Nicole Kamin
GVSU basketball teams sweep Wisconsin-Parkside in GLIAC
GVSU women’s basketball beats Roosevelt for Mike Williams’ 300th win
GVSU basketball upset by Wayne State in road doubleheader
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
