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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - They don't necessarily look dominating when they take the court, but the Grand Valley State Lakers sure know how to win big games. And they can do it at home, on the road or on a neutral floor. That's why Grand Valley State is a real threat to repeat as NCAA Division II national champions. The Lakers demonstrated their knack for playing well against outstanding teams during the two-day Travel America Classic in Regents Hall, the latest being an emphatic 74-58 victory over Northern Kentucky University on Tuesday night. Grand Valley State shot 62.5 percent from the field in the first half to build a 38-22 lead, and NKU was unable to generate any kind of rally after the break. The Lakers were 6-for-8 from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes and used an early 13-2 run to build a 15-6 lead. "They’re an excellent team, and when you play a team that scores inside and outside, you have to give them credit," NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. "There are some things that we didn’t do, but Grand Valley played awfully well. I thought we were fired up to play, and I felt we were excited. But Grand Valley is an exceptional team." The two main culprits in the first half were Crystal Zick and Erika Ryskamp, who combined for 26 points on 10-for-13 shooting from the field. Zick had 17 of her game-high 27 points by the break, and Ryskamp netted nine of her 15 in the first half. Zick and Ryskamp each drained a trio of 3-pointers in the first half. And neither missed from long range during the opening 20 minutes. "It felt like (Zick and Ryskamp) made every shot they took," Winstel said. The onslaught continued for much of the second half as Grand Valley State's lead ballooned up to 64-38 with 10:43 remaining. NKU shot 56.5 percent from the field in the second half, but the Lakers countered by making 60.9 percent of their attempts from the floor. NKU also committed 23 turnovers, which offset a 28-19 advantage in rebounding for the Norse. "They played the screens well. We were trying to hit the roller and they were quick on their recovery, so that made it difficult," said Brittany Winner, who led NKU with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists. "I don’t know if it was so much their defense, but our offense just wasn't protecting it."
Angela Healy and Karyn Creager each added 10 points for NKU, which is ranked 17th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. Nicole Chiodi scored eight points, while Danyelle Echoles came off the bench and finished with seven points. It wasn't enough to stop the Lakers, who had defeated then-No. 2 Emporia State during the first night of the Travel America Classic. Emporia State, which defeated Northern Michigan on Tuesday, dropped to No. 3 in the poll as a result of the loss to Grand Valley State. The defending national champions definitely made an impression during the two-day event. "I didn’t feel like we could zone them. We felt like we had to man them up because of their ability to shoot the outside shot," Winstel said. "They’re so quick and fast, and they take the ball to the basket. When we were down with about 11 minutes left we went to a press. "It didn’t really help us a whole lot, but it did get our energy going a little bit. It just seemed like anything that we tried to do didn’t work tonight." NKU and Grand Valley State also met last March in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional at Springfield, Mo., and the Lakers shot 73.3 percent from the field in the first half and coasted to a 91-70 win over the Norse. Healy and Winner both said Tuesday was much different that the previous meeting. "I think we played a lot better, it was just that they made their shots," Healy said. "Our intensity was up, and we played hard the entire game." Added Winner: "This was a very different game from the last time. We battled them hard, and I don’t think we let our intensity drop this time around. Even when we were down, we were intense, we were talking and moving the ball. I think it was very different from last year." Winner and Healy each were named to the all-tournament team. Healy also extended her consecutive made free-throw streak to 19, eight shy of tying Creager's school-record 27 straight makes. Creager, however, hit all six of her free throws Tuesday night and now has made 20 consecutive from the line. NKU will return to action Dec. 28 in Lakeland, Fla., with a game against St. Rose (N.Y.). The Norse will also meet Mercyhurst (Pa.) the following day.
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