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ALLENDALE - It was always a focus but never talked about.
It didn't need to be.
After winning the NCAA Division II national championship last season, the seniors of the Grand Valley State women's basketball team knew the team was talented enough to repeat as national champions if they worked hard enough and kept the focus.
It would be difficult to find a team as focused as the Lakers were throughout the postseason.
GVSU came out energized, especially on the defensive end of the floor, every game and built double-digit leads in every NCAA tournament game.
The focus was there. It was all business. This team wanted to win. But instead of talking about it all season, the Lakers just went out and did their jobs day after day.
More: BACK TO BACK GVSU women's basketball repeats as NCAA Division II national champions
More: GVSU's Ava Scanlon embraces 'amazing moment' of winning NCAA title after injury
It transformed into one of the most dominating postseason runs in NCAA Division II history with every single win being double-digits and all but one game being a 20-point win or higher. That's right, playing the best teams in the country, the Lakers channeled their focus into absolute domination.
"The seniors taught us to take it moment by moment and we were able to follow," GVSU sophomore Ava Scanlon said.
The senior class of Molly Anderson, Nicole Kamin, Lexi Plitzuweit, Paige VanStee and Avery Zeinstra has that as their legacy. The group knew how to win and kept that focus on what can be done in the moment to get there.
And they came through with another national title.
Only six Division II teams have ever repeated, and no team this century has dominated opponents like the Lakers did this postseason, with an average margin of victory of 31 points.
"We definitely didn't leave any chance for a team to come back," Anderson said. "We didn't want to leave anyone hope."
There was no hope remaining and the Lakers clobbered Indiana University-Pennsylvania 72-49 in the championship game on Saturday, March 28, in Pittsburgh.
"As it was winding down, I was tired. I don't think it really sunk in right away. I am so blessed that we were able to do this again," said Kamin, who was voted MVP of the tournament. "We knew we didn't want to go out on a loss. We all just looked at each other after we made it to the last game and it made us play even harder. We were very locked in and knew we were not losing."
That work ethic was something each of the seniors had when they got to GVSU, but it grew into a collective effort that propelled the Lakers to great things.
"It was just amazing to know it was going to be our last game (no matter what), so just getting to celebrate with my teammates was amazing," Zeinstra said. "I was very emotional knowing it was my last basketball game and I am just very grateful for the journey. We had a great balance of fun and getting the job done."
That was a common thread between the players.
"It is extremely important to have a good balance of fun and work," VanStee said. "Our thing was to just be where our feet were this whole season. We just took it game by game all the way to the championship."
Each game, the opening tip was the signal to go to work.
It led the senior class to four GLIAC Tournament titles, three NCAA regional titles and two NCAA titles, not counting the Final Four appearance five years ago when this group was all redshirted.
Work became winning and winning became a habit. That habit allowed the team to stay calm and keep the focus on the moment - even when the seconds on a repeat title were ticking down.
"We were all more calm this time because we knew it was our last game. We put everything into basketball. It is super special. I knew we had a special class from the moment I got to Grand Valley. The fact that we achieved so much in five years is very special. Once we won it last year, we were just hungry to have that feeling again. We did everything we could to get a win at the end."
But the senior group's legacy is about far more than winning. It is about putting together what it takes to win, trust and love of teammates, and living in the moment, no matter how small or how large.
And going out a winner.
"It was a little more emotional this year because we knew it was our last game. It was just thinking about how grateful we were to be in this position with our best friends," Anderson said. "We just love each other. That is the legacy of this group."
Postseason
GVSU's Ava Scanlon led Lakers to NCAA Division II women's championship
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
Key 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
GVSU women's basketball, defending NCAA champs, top LSSU.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: GVSU basketball seniors leave tremendous legacy with repeat NCAA title
Continue reading...
It didn't need to be.
After winning the NCAA Division II national championship last season, the seniors of the Grand Valley State women's basketball team knew the team was talented enough to repeat as national champions if they worked hard enough and kept the focus.
It would be difficult to find a team as focused as the Lakers were throughout the postseason.
GVSU came out energized, especially on the defensive end of the floor, every game and built double-digit leads in every NCAA tournament game.
The focus was there. It was all business. This team wanted to win. But instead of talking about it all season, the Lakers just went out and did their jobs day after day.
More: BACK TO BACK GVSU women's basketball repeats as NCAA Division II national champions
More: GVSU's Ava Scanlon embraces 'amazing moment' of winning NCAA title after injury
It transformed into one of the most dominating postseason runs in NCAA Division II history with every single win being double-digits and all but one game being a 20-point win or higher. That's right, playing the best teams in the country, the Lakers channeled their focus into absolute domination.
"The seniors taught us to take it moment by moment and we were able to follow," GVSU sophomore Ava Scanlon said.
The senior class of Molly Anderson, Nicole Kamin, Lexi Plitzuweit, Paige VanStee and Avery Zeinstra has that as their legacy. The group knew how to win and kept that focus on what can be done in the moment to get there.
And they came through with another national title.
Only six Division II teams have ever repeated, and no team this century has dominated opponents like the Lakers did this postseason, with an average margin of victory of 31 points.
"We definitely didn't leave any chance for a team to come back," Anderson said. "We didn't want to leave anyone hope."
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There was no hope remaining and the Lakers clobbered Indiana University-Pennsylvania 72-49 in the championship game on Saturday, March 28, in Pittsburgh.
"As it was winding down, I was tired. I don't think it really sunk in right away. I am so blessed that we were able to do this again," said Kamin, who was voted MVP of the tournament. "We knew we didn't want to go out on a loss. We all just looked at each other after we made it to the last game and it made us play even harder. We were very locked in and knew we were not losing."
That work ethic was something each of the seniors had when they got to GVSU, but it grew into a collective effort that propelled the Lakers to great things.
"It was just amazing to know it was going to be our last game (no matter what), so just getting to celebrate with my teammates was amazing," Zeinstra said. "I was very emotional knowing it was my last basketball game and I am just very grateful for the journey. We had a great balance of fun and getting the job done."
That was a common thread between the players.
"It is extremely important to have a good balance of fun and work," VanStee said. "Our thing was to just be where our feet were this whole season. We just took it game by game all the way to the championship."
You must be registered for see images attach
Each game, the opening tip was the signal to go to work.
It led the senior class to four GLIAC Tournament titles, three NCAA regional titles and two NCAA titles, not counting the Final Four appearance five years ago when this group was all redshirted.
Work became winning and winning became a habit. That habit allowed the team to stay calm and keep the focus on the moment - even when the seconds on a repeat title were ticking down.
"We were all more calm this time because we knew it was our last game. We put everything into basketball. It is super special. I knew we had a special class from the moment I got to Grand Valley. The fact that we achieved so much in five years is very special. Once we won it last year, we were just hungry to have that feeling again. We did everything we could to get a win at the end."
But the senior group's legacy is about far more than winning. It is about putting together what it takes to win, trust and love of teammates, and living in the moment, no matter how small or how large.
And going out a winner.
"It was a little more emotional this year because we knew it was our last game. It was just thinking about how grateful we were to be in this position with our best friends," Anderson said. "We just love each other. That is the legacy of this group."
GVSU coverage this season
Postseason
GVSU's Ava Scanlon led Lakers to NCAA Division II women's championship
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
Key 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
GVSU women's basketball, defending NCAA champs, top LSSU.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: GVSU basketball seniors leave tremendous legacy with repeat NCAA title
Continue reading...
