>> Welcome back to an all new episode of the Grand Valley State sports report on ww.

I'm your host Jake Levy on today's episode.

A look at 2 big wins from the GSU women's basketball team as they continue to dominate the Clery act.

Dsu men's basketball dropped to midweek games but followed up with a win to close out the weekend.

Later in the program, we'll talk with athletic director Terry Becker about all things GB su athletics and look at the life and legacy of trailblazing women's coach John bond rocket in Laker nation as the Grand Valley State sport report starts right now.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] Etsu women's basketball secured 2 dominant wins this week beating Parkside on Thursday, then following up with a double against Purdue Northwest on Saturday for alumni day.

Joining us now to talk about his team's head coach Mike Williams and coach defense was definitely the calling card for your team this week holding both teams to 40 or fewer points, which is even a team on the defensive side of the ball this week.

>> Well, I I thought, you know, we came out a little bit of an edge, especially its Parkside.

We know how good their offensive Lee and in what they're doing and put points on the board.

I was 75 a game.

They just undefeated segun on home in a big win.

So they write pretty high.

And I thought our players accepted the challenge.

I thought they were prepared and I thought they execute what we want to do and that they were active.

A lot of pop.

They were they're flying around defensively.

They were communicating and a lot of stops.

>> Last 3 games in the 4th quarter.

Northern Michigan scored 6 points.

Parkside scored 4 points for us.

West scored 3 points would have been about 4th quarters in your team's ability to clamp down late.

>> You know, I I think the what the message is that your point?

Some players in that in that time period as well.

And then playing a lot because we're up on northern May 15 so some players got in obviously parks.

I was separated there and in the 3rd.

So a lot of players going to have been planted.

Same paper off West.

And in those players came in and I thought did an outstanding job of finishing the game.

And we've talked about that a lot with her, you know, certain plays and possessions and it and now they they finished the game.

And so I think we're we're listening to what was supposed to do.

And I think we're trying to apply that we get the game.

I give those guys a lot of credit.

And that was those are 3, 3, great efforts in that 4th quarter.

>> They sure are.

Let's talk about the offensive side of the ball for a little bit now.

It started Thursday night.

The Parkside 67 to 34 the it was a freshman that really stepped up.

Kelly had another big game.

What you did.

A Thursday before Riley baseball, but also every kid that really stepped up on the offensive end for you in this one, too.

>> You know, and we've talked about the town.

We have a younger younger players and that, you know, freshman class and that second you're freshman class.

And, you know, I think it's it's a matter of them.

Just getting confidence.

Just keep get their feet wet getting in situations.

And you're now the plan in front.

You know, last year was there kind of the underdog coming in all the players.

Now we're kind of playing in front and it's play.

It's a little different mentally how to handle some of that stuff.

And I think there they figure it out for developing that confidence in developing that confidence from their teammates.

And I think now they're they're seeing scene plays better seen what what's open for them.

And so, you know, we've got we've got talented players and they can score.

And now you see that happen.

>> No, you're playing a team like Parkside that has such a good offense.

Your team to go 11 for 15 in the 1st quarter and open up that 15 point lead after 10 minutes.

How big was that kind of set the tone.

But the ease into a game.

That's because really good offense like parts of it.

>> Well, I think that's what did happen.

He said we made some shots.

We had good looks.

We were active defensively.

We got some stops and then once we separate look like parks, just kind of backed off woman didn't seem the same team that they had been the last time we played them.

And so any time you jump on a team like that and they and they go back on their heels.

You're going to be pretty good shape.

The rest the game.

I think that's what happened.

They have.

>> 2 really good scores to and Alyssa Nelson had o'clock.

We've got a really nice job of kind of slowing them down, bottling them and how to feel like our team executed that game plan against those 2.

>> Well, I I thought we've got some individual players that are kind of stepping up to the defense of challenge.

And I saw, you know, quays Stanton I think is one who's really bought into it.

You know, she's a competitor.

She likes the challenge and she's kind of want to start out.

And on the other team's best score.

And what you did with malice and then what else went inside.

It did a good job picking up that slack.

But you know, and clock in the same thing.

I think the riser on the one hand came in.

Courtney switched off and I thought I thought individual.

We did a great job that we got you a little better off the ball.

And that's we're going to work on this week.

But yeah, those are those are good players and their offensive.

>> Players.

And I thought we handled very well.

You mentioned quite we can't get through the park's.

I can without mentioning 9 assists for her in that game on Thursday night with the huge facilitator for your team.

That in turn around its pretty Northwest on Saturday.

It was a tight one.

Half 2726.

But that 3rd quarter, something change.

Just a switch was flipped.

Coach was like an halftime locker room.

What do you say?

They got your team into another gear there for the 2nd half.

>> Well, dressed up are saying game.

Should 9 assists, no turnovers.

That's that's pretty good.

Yeah.

Impressive and ignite.

The thought me here say it's much of a Scrooge in FY one more system they get into a double but they come to go back and do that.

But yeah, and I thought I could have time it was a message of it was it was one of those are good.

I think I mean, in front be in the team that's supposed to win.

I think it puts a little added pressure on our players.

We try to loosen up at halftime.

Just tell him, you know, hey, you're not this great team is going to roll every game you can.

But you know, pro and in print West is a much better team than the record shows.

And and they gave us fits because they really get in.

You defensively the pressure.

And so I think, you know, at halftime of kids took a breath and they went out there thought they kept their chins up and they and they took the plays that were there.

And I think they're confident making them.

So I think that was just the difference was nothing really no adjustments, really that we did.

>> X and always wise if they were really good with their guard, especially on the help defensively so long in athletics and really give you guys problems as first 20 minutes.

But then Emily Spitzer talk about the freshman on Thursday night.

But Emily specially really stepped up to kind of lead the offense.

You got that quick bucket right out of the gate to start the second happened.

She rolled the kind of leader team in the 2nd half offensively.

>> United what she's doing.

A great job as it gets issues getting more mature.

She's taking the shots are there and not not forcing shots, not taking shots at, you know, trying to make things happen.

And again when you can shoot.

You know, we shouldn't someone's face from the arc.

You had to pull up and you can also get to the rim, you're probably going to have a lot of shots available.

You just don't have the force.

And so I think I think what was she aid for 9, 8, 7, or 8 something.

You know, I mean, all the shots were great shots.

And she does that.

She's going to shoot a high percentage.

So.

>> It was good to see here.

I think not not try to overpower the other team offense.

But take what was there and taken with confidence.

Great to see Hannah coolest coming along as well.

Coming back from that knee injury.

She has been getting better and better and stronger and stronger every game, which is great to see as we hit the stretch here.

We got a big road trip this week ago up to Lake state that a big one at Ferris state coach.

A busy week for you guys this week.

>> You know, it's going to be it's going to be tough.

You know, we've talked about now this the final stretch of the regular season.

We're playing the top teams in the conference on the road.

And so I think is going to be great.

Cook the lakes.

They're going to get a day trip go up there, battle them know they're back now.

They've been playing here.

Few games.

They've got to feed on.

So that's going to be a test.

And then like you said, Saturday, we've got a pop-up the fair, some play that one in, you know, that's going to be like.

It always is.

We my son let fares.

So has been a great game, but it's going to it's going to give us that it's going to test our mettle can see where we're at and hopefully prepare us, you know, for that glare tournament in those in those games late in the season.

>> To the way the schedule breaks out a lot of these young ladies haven't been to fare state to play a game in a while.

So it's going to be a tough task for them to go up to big Rapids.

Always fun.

And Jim winker looking for 2 great games this week.

Coach, thanks for time.

Congratulations on 12 wins in a row so far.

Let's get on this week.

All right, Jake, thank you.

We're back with more of the Grand Valley State sport report continues on WGN [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] dsu men's basketball dropped a pair of games during the week falling to Davenport on Tuesday and Parkside on Thursday.

Then find a way back into the win column on Saturday as they beat Purdue Northwest join us now to talk about his team's head coach Rick Wesley coach 3 home games this week.

Yeah.

For better energy of your guys as the week went on.

You certainly got that when you take away from the weekend as you turn to another another busy week this week.

>> Well, we're an awfully busy time.

You know, we had 5 games and, you know, many days 8 days, 9 days, some like that.

And so, you know, it's been a tough stretch we gave back.

Will you be had some momentum.

But, you know, the play was first 2 games and the teams we play really played well, so, you know, we got knocked out a couple times.

We talked about it and you know, happy to say we bounce back on Saturday and were able to rebound to get back in the win COLUMN.

>> Yeah, there are some really good shooting performances in all 3 games.

Really it seemed like the deep shot was kind of the deciding factor in all 3 this week.

>> Yeah.

It was kind of a strange week to say the least, you know, teams are really taking away our or try to take away our inside game.

So, you know, it's encouraging when guys step up and makes threes.

But that is just search Google in the games trying to find that the right formula.

We've got to get our big guys border.

A bucket got continued are smaller guys, you know, making those shots, though.

Saturday sort of seem to come together in the right way.

It wasn't a lot of guys.

But, you know, Jake was kind of Mister inside and tell the umbrellas kind of Mister outside.

>> Yeah, that was a great combination.

Want to talk about that in a moment.

But first, let's highlight Jake Van to begin because becomes the 4th player ever in Laker history to reach a 1000 rebounds for his career during the game on Thursday night.

Great honor for him has been a great kid since he got on campus back in 2017.

I don't means a lot to you and your staff that will give you a moment here during Jake hitting that milestone this week to talk about what they can to bring him into this program.

>> Yeah.

Rebounds are, you know, take a lot of effort.

Why the effort and they don't just fall to you've got to get in.

They got mixed up, you know, so we certainly have a decent size and I have a great hands like Jay come into play.

But then when you see a guy get like he has 1213, 14 rebounds that really stands out because that doesn't have to without making great after in.

Jake is I mean, the Saturday that he was jumping all over the rim and got some.

You can see my yes, several of the rim rebound.

So it's kind of his calling card is what's you're kind of his starting point to make unique and special early and that was him and Christian.

You know, we have had 2 of the best defensive rebounders early that the last 3 or 4 years.

>> It's a big reason why each of the last 3 years have led the conference in rebounding margin, to say the least.

But in the way, Jake got his 1000 was incredible to sprawling on the floor for that offensive rebound.

It was such a perfect highlight to kind of get exactly.

We're talking about the effort that Jake gives night in and night out.

The reason why he's a 1000 rebound member at Grand Valley.

But after that game on Thursday coach and we talked on the radio you after better effort out of your team and for some guys to step up and on Saturday.

Jake took the ball right to the rim of the opening tip and then Christian had that steel strip 6 going back for the one-handed jam.

It seems like right out of the gates on Saturday.

You guys really answer that Bell.

>> Yeah, it did feel like that.

I continue to believe in our team.

We have a good group of guys.

You know, they want to do well, they're willing to do the work.

But you know, as we've seen teams to come into play us.

They don't just roll in here and sleepwalk through.

They're always ready to go.

And you know, both Davenport Park site.

I thought they had just tremendous performances.

They played at a high level and parks that continue that Saturday when they went back over to Davenport.

So, you know, the margin for error between best and the worst team in our conference is that that great?

We just got to people can begin to the the stats and the the way we played trying to find the little things that can help maximize our efficiency and give us a better chance to win.

>> Yeah.

That promotes West give you had a big lead early.

But then as the 3 ball does, it usually is a great equalizer.

They hit 3 in a row there down the stretch of the 1st half to take the lead for the first time the game 3433 late and that happened.

I thought you guys responded really nicely down the stretch of that 1st half to secure a lead and they came out really shoot the ball well, in the 2nd half, particularly de Leon Brown.

He kind of touch dot.

>> Yeah.

We really, you know, offensively.

I thought this was one of our better to not only do we make shots, but the matter which we executed our offense I thought was a lot smoother.

We got got the ball to the right spots.

And we've been talking about that all week, whether it's, you know, get our drivers some openings to dry weather is good.

Our our stronger guys catches closer to the basket.

You know, we have to do all that.

We have to be.

It's a can.

I thought I'd Saturday.

We did that Jordan hairs while he did score a lot Saturday had a good floor game.

If you really got a break and wants the ball ahead.

Fo Fo d'elia follow.

I gastman couple times.

And and so did Christian Christian for center at several really nice pass.

And so, you know, it's kind of funny.

Those guys that really stand out of the spore shuns much as Jacob and Dell, but not so sure that they didn't play equals as well.

>> Yeah.

Facilitation is important.

Harris had 14 assists during the week for you guys.

But he's really done a nice job of starting to share the ball without turning it over.

That's been a big turnaround for him this season, which has been great to see.

You're going to be going forward is another busy week this week.

3 more games all on the road starts tomorrow night at North with a new go straight to the Soo many a deal with bears at Thurs this week's another really busy week for your team.

>> It's a girl.

It's a grind.

Its ruling.

It's rough for me.

This is been a stretch like a unlike anything we have ever had.

What you know, we're pretty pretty healthy.

Our players are healthy and we're open.

Loot Oliver gets back today.

It starts perhaps you're working his way back to Fort we maybe could contribute.

But, you know, we've been pretty fortunate.

We just we just got a bill that our last game that we've been good on the road.

And certainly this week.

You know, we need to take that same mindset with us as we travel.

>> No question trying to stay undefeated away from home.

Best of luck with the coach.

Thanks as always for your time and 3 more this week to rest up.

All right.

Thank you.

We'll be right back with more is the Grand Valley.

State sports report continues on WDTN.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] The GSU athletic department has grown and thrived for years under the leadership of a lot of different people.

One person that may have been the most influential for growing the women's side of athletics.

The GSU was Joan bond, a former head coach played a role in virtually every single women's athletic program GSU has had over the past 45 years.

Sadly, she passed away this week at the age of 88.

Turning now to talk about the life and legacy of John bond as well as give us some insight into upcoming events.

GSU athletes will be hosting that the director, Kerry backer and Terry, thanks so much for joining us.

Of course, we have to start with Joan.

What an amazing woman has such a lasting impact at Grand Valley state.

If you could just lead us off by telling what she means to you and the GSU athletics as a whole.

>> Oh, my goodness.

I wouldn't be standing before you with that title sitting in the be chair of people like John back.

You know, she is I always describe where they stood.

I'm standing on her show the battle she bought to ensure equity.

And after that it's just simply by starting fall sports by giving women a platform to play sports and she knew they wanted to play.

They came to her.

She's like I said, I've my quote is she said yes.

And she didn't just say would say yes, once instead of multiple times.

What sports.

I'm just she is the reads like over the matriarch of women definite soon as she she's had her hand in a lot of starting sports but then continued on and stayed on.

It is in a straight or and did work at the next state national level to ensure equity in and was that voice that continued to ensure that women continue to have the opportunity to what's great, I think is it's it's not it's it's Joan, but it's also ramp that been Valley and young that need the lobby and 7 to start sports for women.

Matter of fact, a little tidbit that I learned that by should have known.

But I didn't is Grande Valley.

It was the first for you institution to offer scholarships but women athletes and then certainly don't have a hand.

So there's so many stories are so many people.

She is an impact.

Did I can't tell you the number of Texans got Minnie mouse from a law means and in just fellow administrators sitting there.

Not since.

And it's just tough to see a person like her past.

But as I said, I'm her legacy will continue.

Make sure that by placing her name on that wall.

National champions.

And I'm certainly will do some other things to ensure her like that.

>> Yeah.

I'm glad you mentioned that they wanted to bring up how great it was that just a year ago.

You're able to build the Hall of champions.

It's no coincidence that 20 of 27 team sport championship to GPS.

You have come from the women's side and she's no doubt.

A big part of that to get her into that Hall while she was still able and healthy and able to see what that legacy is in her time line up there at how how special is that to you and to the president.

I know everybody was very happy to get her back on campus, get her to see that as it was built in her honor.

>> Absolutely.

And we did it.

I mean, the the height of covid.

But it was vitally important for me to do that time.

You know, she wasn't getting any younger and I wanted to make sure that moves to close his family and friends can see how we thought about.

Don't in the 100.

3 of her on that wall was appropriate.

You know, people put names and fields and courts and things like that.

But I want to her state to be brought right.

Just like the success that our student athletes have to have a achieved that and I wanted it to be equated with the best met with their nationals Tampa.

And then I give a lot of credit to you and your colleagues to put together that timeline to scrap its created that vision.

I was phenomenal to see that every day as I walked up early, I think and be reminded of where we how we got to the election.

>> You've got to get a lot of credit to Tim.

Not as well has been in the market for a quarter of a century work very closely with Joan.

I still remember her coming with the took the rolls to get basically a once a month with that big 100 count bag.

That always seem to bring a smile to everybody's face.

You will certainly be missed around the halls.

A GPS unit lover Stadium on football game days as well.

You did mention the height of covid.

I want to kind of move transition to that.

Now as we move forward with athletics here in these coming months.

Obviously the on the con Berry and has played a role.

As you look at the athletic department as a whole here.

How is the impact of these last couple of weeks and where do you foresee going here.

Over the next few was the kind of move through this latest variant.

>> I think some of it continues to be uncertain place.

But some of that we expected.

We expected with the repopulation testing that we would see some positive cases and be like to take the next 2 Napa population of starting to level off, but it still has lingered a little bit starting to impact some staff and I've told our staff I sent an email this morning is it's vitally important that we keep to keep the wheels going for student athletes and supporters student athletes are working hard to stay healthy that we do the same because I can't put basketball.

You can't coach the track right in trouble.

If I have to start coaching or you have just a coach.

You know, we've given our best the so it's important that we keep our staff healthy.

And so I've asked people to close the bubbles again, just even know where all boasted that grateful for the Russians.

They were opposed to that vaccination mandate testing.

They do sure that we have the best chance to be healthy.

But there's nowhere in teens.

So we have doubled down in some ways that a Geisha measures and ensure that we're we're available for student athletes of the stand your staff coaches and keep beating the ground that we beat it.

Beat this 20 plus months.

>> Something tells me like you had a coaching softball if you had to.

But other than that, maybe be a a little bit of a stretch will carry.

I know it's a really, really busy time.

All around.

GSU athletics.

Crossover season is always fun and it's great when those winter sports are in postseason as well.

So thank you.

So that a little bit your time.

Stay safe.

Stay healthy and thanks for giving us your insight.

>> Thanks, Adam and grow.

>> We're back with more is the Grand Valley.

State sports report continues on WDTN.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> And Grande Valley.

The extra season of play mandated by the NCAA due to the pandemic has in some ways already helped Lakers coach Mike Williams was got 18 months to work with standout freshman Ellie draw Steve of Westphalia and her fellow guard Hadley Miller from 3 Rivers and both of whom enrolled in the fall.

2000, 20.

>> Ennobled Dillingham.

We're kind of what we call combo guards to count on the point when the off guard while shooting well, in high school, maybe you hail a lot and a flexible to defend that.

>> This year's Laker team is a far cry from the squad Williams and built around 6 foot.

4 inch center Cassidy bench in the year before Miller and Ross to ride the Lakers in twenty-twenty to are now chock full of perimeter standouts, including senior quakes stand and when shooter Emily Spitz Lee when a total of 10 3 pointers in 2 games recently against Davenport unfair state and adding to that mix is the draw Steve Miller combination, each of whom are contributing at multiple positions while learning with and from each other.

What a beautiful ball down the killer cut.

>> I have the same style of basketball.

So like having someone that is willing to work together with me as well.

And happy put in so much time into the gym.

Sub slick.

See her put in all this extra time.

It makes me want to do it as well.

But it's just a lot of fun.

Having someone, especially in my exact same class.

We've been through the same experiences together so far.

>> Having alley and having Riley or someone like that to look at when they play is actually really cool to have because we can do a lot of things I can do.

And so like when we're working out together with coach.

Mike.

I can look at like, oh, that's really good move to try to do that.

Rush try to practice at with herself if we play off each other works well.

>> Since arriving for their college debuts a little over a year ago when they both played more than half of the game in a win over Saginaw Valley Italian Hadley played all 34 of their team's games heading into their trip to the upper Peninsula last week.

And while winning the trust of their coaches and teammates.

They and classmate.

Wiley biz ball have borrowed from each other to make your group strong.

>> He's really fast.

So I definitely want to try to pick up her fast quick for staff.

That's a big one.

And she has a really good spin move that I want to try to learn.

It's like a really fast like one to right into it and where I kind of take my time.

So that's something that I want to work out a lot.

>> And ball handling really get all of our 5 starters and even all the people that come off the bench part.

They can just pick up right with the next person left off.

So it's just really helpful.

I think for our team and it just creates a lot of chemistry forest freshman all were called upon to play and you contribute large minutes.

And I think when you have the type of culture that we have that camaraderie.

>> Overall mentality.

We want to be successful.

I think every reason brace him anything to help.

Our team, I believe is embrace and that's I think what's happening here.

>> In the long run up to last year's abbreviated 20 game campaign gave both Laker guards a chance to get plenty of personalize instruction from their coaches.

And while Miller worked to refine the jump shot that major a big high school score.

Frosty has toiled in the weight room and the strength that made her a trademark drives into the lane.

And though it looked like they might spend your years grandelli battling each other for playing time.

Now in most games, Allie and heavily find themselves side by side in careers, which could see them each play more than 100 games for the Lakers in the Grand Valley State's court.

[MUSIC] >> That's all the time we have this week on the Grand Valley.

State sports report GSU swimming and diving will be in action.

February 4th through the 7 for the glee action.

Paean ships on the campus of Saginaw Valley state, the bsu track and field to host the GSU snow down showdown on February 4th at the Kelly family sports Center in Allendale the meeting scheduled for one 45 PM GSU men's and women's basketball will hit the road for all of their games this week.

GSU men's basketball take on northwood Tuesday at 06:00PM as they make.

That came up from earlier this season.

Both teams will then travel to Lake Superior state on Thursday.

February 3rd with games starting at 05:30PM, and 07:30PM on Saturday.

The Lakers will head up the big rapids to battle rival Ferris state.

The women tip off at 01:00PM.

All the men took off at 03:00PM for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program is a GPS you Lakers dot com for more of this show it to our youtube channel at youtube.

Dot com slash WGVU 35 makes it hit the subscribe button to get updated video highlights all year long for the entire crew here at wdvm.

I'm Jake.

We have a great week Laker nation.

And as always Anchor Up.

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