PARKSIDE, Wisconsin – After suffering their first loss of the season and dropping from the top spot in the nation, Grand Valley State’s women’s basketball team is on track to enter the new year.
The Lakers, currently ranked No. 4 in Division II, beat Wisconsin-Parkside 83-73 in overtime on Wednesday.
GVSU outscored Parkside 13-3 in overtime and remained first in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, improving to 13-1 and 4-0.
Emily Spitley (Pewamo Westphalia) dominated the Lakers with a career-high 31 points. She went 11-for-18 from the field and hit five of her 3-pointers. She also recorded 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
Spitley hit a 3-pointer with 21 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.
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Ellie Droste, another Pewamo Westphalia graduate, scored 12 points, while Nicole Kamin and Abry Kavanagh each scored 11 points.
In overtime, Kamin makes two free throws, then Class makes one free throw. Class then scored two baskets in a minute, including a three-point play that pushed GVSU’s lead to 78-70.
Cabana made two free throws and Droste added three free throws to seal the win.
GVSU’s only loss of the season came against Lewis on December 31st. The Lakers, who made it to last year’s Final Four, slipped from first to fourth.
The Lakers got on track, shooting 46.6% and 40% from 3-point range. The fourth quarter was also huge as GVSU went up and he got 73%.
GVSU has proven they can bounce back from defeat and recover in overtime. This is crucial for the Lakers to clinch the conference title and aim for another postseason run.
Please contact Sports Editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. follow him on twitter @DanDAddona or facebook @HollandSentinelSportsseconds.