ALLENDALE, Mich. – The eighth-seeded Trevecca Nazarene University women's basketball team's (19-12) season ended against top-seeded Grand Valley State University (30-2), 63-35, in the NCAA Midwest Regional quarterfinals at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena on Friday afternoon. 

 

The Trojans and Lakers have never met in women's basketball. 

 

Last season, Trevecca advanced to the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history. Trevecca, the fifth seed, advanced to the semifinals with a quarterfinal win over fourth-seeded Michigan Tech University, 65-63. Trevecca's run ended at the hands of the eventual undefeated national champions, No. 1 Ashland who ousted the Trojans in the Great Midwest Championship game this season as well. 

 
BREAKING IT DOWN     
Trevecca fell into a 7-0 hole in the opening two minutes before Faith Wilken broke the silence with a 3-pointer. After a pair of Lakers baskets, the Trojans went on a 6-0 run to pull within a bucket at 11-9 with 2:52 to play. GVSU pushed its lead to five in the closing seconds of the period to lead 14-9 after the first. 

 

Defensively, Trevecca turned up the pressure in the second quarter, allowing just seven points. The Trojans used a 10-2 run to take their first lead of the game at 19-16 after Konner Gambrell finished off a hook shot with 3:52 to go. After Grand Valley's Hadley Miller answered with a layup, both sides finished the half by connecting for a 3-pointer to close the scoring. Trevecca led 22-21 at the break. 

 

The Trojans limited the Lakers to just 21 first half points, the least scored by GVSU all season long against Division II opponents. Previously, the Lakers scored a season-low 22 points in the regular season finale against GLIAC foe Michigan Tech. Grand Valley managed 19 points at the break versus Ohio State who issued the Lakers one of their two losses.  

 

The seven second quarter points allowed by the Trojans was the least points scored in a quarter by the Lakers since the season opener versus the University of Missouri-St. Louis when GVSU managed five fourth quarter points. GVSU scored eight points in the second quarter when facing Ohio State and scored single digit points in a single quarter only four times before this game. 

 

The third quarter was not friendly to the Trojans. The first 13 points belonged to the hosts and despite a Keeley Carter step-back jumper midway through, the Lakers opened the quarter on a huge 20-2 run. The Trojans scored just six points in the third and faced a 46-28 deficit heading into the fourth. 

Grand Valley opened the fourth quarter with a quick 5-0 run to maintain control and went on to outscore Trevecca by 10 in the frame to win 63-35. 
  
KEY PLAYERS       
Keeley Carter had a team-high 14 points and two rebounds to lead the Trojans. Trevecca got five points apiece from Faith Wilken, Lili Wilken and Konnor Gambrell. 

  
TEAM TIME     
The Trojans had one of their lowest outputs shooting on the year. Hitting just 27.2% (15-54) from the field, 18.8% (3-16) from 3-point range, and were 2-3 from the foul line. The Lakers outrebounded the Trojans 55-29. 
  

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