ALLENDALE – As the top-ranked Grand Valley State Lakers enter the second half of the GLIAC season, two ranked teams remained on the schedule.
With the rematch with rival Ferris State (No. 21) not until the final game of the season, No. 12 Northern Michigan provided a good test for the No. 1 Lakers as they head toward the stretch run of the season.
It was an opportunity to gauge their progress on both sides of the ball, and they took advantage with a 70-47 win over the Wildcats on Thursday, Jan. 29, at Grand Valley Field House.
The Lakers improved to 19-0 and 11-0 in the GLIAC. The Wildcats dropped to 17-4 and 8-3 in the GLIAC.
Every game is an opportunity for starting post player MacKenzie Bisballe to get stronger and healthier.
Bisballe missed a couple of games with a broken toe and has played somewhat limited minutes since returning.
Those limits allowed her to heal and be unleashed against the Wildcats.
Bisballe scored the first three baskets of the game and totaled 11 points, five rebounds and a steal in the first half.
“It was very important to have a game like this,” Bisballe said. “I was super ready to get back and having a game like this gives me a lot of confidence. It is tough when you feel like you can’t help your team.”
Ava Scanlon has seen more minutes in the post with Bisballe playing fewer, and has made the most of them.
Thursday there were multiple stretches where both Scanlon and Bisballe were in the game together.
“Kenz is such good player and I feel like we give each other a lot of confidence. I know if I am not down there that she has it and will get the rebound and we both know how to play the post, so when we pass the ball to each other, we know where to go with the ball because it is what we would want (in a pass).”
Bisballe finished with 19 points and nine rebounds. Scanlon had 11 points and seven rebounds.
“It was a battle. This conference is a monster,” GVSU coach Mike Williams said. “We came out with a lot of energy and communicated at a high level. Then we have the twin towers down here. They did a great job. Our players did a great job of getting the ball to them with good timing. They are both mobile so they can play together.”
That flexibility could be key as the top-ranked Lakers aim for another NCAA title run.
“Ava is a great post player and that helps our team. Having two post players and great guards on the outside, it make s it really hard for opposing teams,” Bisballe said.
Molly Anderson ignited the crowd with a third-quarter buzzer-beating 3 to put the Lakers up 55-39.
Nicole Kamin had 11 points and six assists. Paige VanStee and Lexi Plitzuweit each had six.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: ‘Twin towers’ MacKenzie Bisballe, Ava Scanlon lead No. 1 GVSU past No. 12 Northern
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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