Updated March 28, 2026, 11:00 p.m. ET
As the ultimate seconds ticked away, the enjoyment started to unfold throughout the faces of the Grand Valley State women’s basketball group.
The Lakers defended their NCAA Division II Championship to shut a exceptional season that noticed them carry out below intense stress, from exterior and from inside, to repeat – each sport with a goal on their backs.
That was the case within the championship sport and the top-ranked Lakers, like they’ve all season, used dedication to rework the stress right 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 final Division II group to repeat in back-to-back years earlier than GVSU (36-1) was Cal Poly Pomona in 2001-02. It has solely occurred six instances in historical past in case you rely Lubbock Christian profitable on both aspect 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 stated. “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 did not must be stated. They have been targeted on every sport and that acquired them to their historic objective.
It is GVSU’s third nationwide title general, additionally profitable in 2006.
MacKenzie Bisballe scored 10 seconds into the sport and GVSU began rolling. Kamin, Bisballe and Paige VanStee all adopted with baskets following pressured turnovers and the Lakers led 8-0 simply 2 minutes into the sport.
Molly Anderson nailed a 3-pointer and VanStee buried two free throws to push the GVSU result in 17-8 after the primary quarter.
“We knew we needed to jump on them right away. They are a great team and had their crowd,” VanStee stated.
In the second quarter, the Lakers pounded the ball inside as Bisballe scored three baskets in a row, then Ava Scanlon transformed a three-point play earlier than Bisballe scored once more within the paint, placing 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 stated.
Bisballe scored 14 factors within the first half, grabbed 5 rebounds and blocked 4 photographs. Meanwhile, Kamin had 11 factors, 4 rebounds, two assists and two blocks because the fast-paced Lakers could not be stopped.
Defensively, GVSU blocked eight photographs within the first half and grabbed 5 steals.
While 3-pointers have been nonetheless troublesome to come back again after a poor taking pictures NCAA semifinal, GVSU shot 61% from the sector within the first half, pounding the ball inside and attending to the rim.
VanStee scored the primary seven factors of the third quarter after IUP began to come back again, whereas the GVSU protection held IUP scoreless for greater than 4 minutes.
Kamin wasn’t accomplished. She nailed a 3-pointer to place the sport out of attain and was named the NCAA Tournament MVP.
VanStee completed with 25 factors and 9 rebounds and was named to the all-tournament group. Kamin and Bisballe every had 18 factors with Bisballe grabbing seven rebounds and blocking 5 photographs and Kamin tallying 5 rebounds, 4 assists, three blocks and a steal.
Anderson and Scanlon had three factors, whereas Zeinstra and Anayya Davis every scored two. Anderson tallied 4 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 stated.
Teresa Maggio led IUP (31-3) with 20 factors and was named to the all-tournament group.
Utter dominance by GVSU
The Lakers have been on a mission all season, however particularly as soon as the postseason began.
GVSU wished to show they have been the most effective two years in a row.
And they did in dominating vogue.
In the GLIAC event, the Lakers beat Lake Superior State by 44 factors, No. 21 Northern Michigan by 28 and Ferris State by 21.
In the primary 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 the place GVSU be then at Carson-Newman by 48 – sure 48, then crushed No. 25 Alabama-Huntsville by 22, resulting in the finals – and one other dominating efficiency.
They gained each sport by double figures and gained all however one sport by 20 factors or extra.
Twice as good
GVSU gained its back-to-back title becoming a member of unique firm.
Lubbock Christian gained in 2019 and 2021 sandwiched across the canceled COVID-19 yr however earlier than that, the final true repeat title was Cal Poly Pomona in 2001-02.
North Dakota gained three in a row from 1997-99 and North Dakota State gained 4 in a row from 1993-96.
Delta State repeated in 1989-90 and Cal Poly Pomona once more repeated in 1985-86.
That is it. GVSU is the seventh Division II group to win two nationwide championships in a row.
Sensational seniors
The NCAA has by no means seen so many elite guards that GVSU has placed on the courtroom previously two years.
After Ellie Droste, Hadley Miller and Abrie Cabana graduated final yr, the Lakers had an excellent greater group of seniors this yr.
Kamin, Plitzuweit, Anderson, Nicole Zeinstra have been sensational together with guard-forward VanStee.
Five gamers who can deal with the ball. Five leaders who saved their eye on the prize and led the Lakers to it as soon as once more.
The legacy they go away off the courtroom is unquantifiable, however back-to-back titles leaves a tremendous legacy for the Lakers.
“It is a great feeling to go out like this,” Zeinstra stated.
GVSU protection 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 gamers
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 activities editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, previously identified as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
