GVSU women's NCAA run ends in Sweet 16 with loss to No. 1 Ashland
ASHLAND, Ohio - The Grand Valley State women's basketball team ended its NCAA tournament run in the Sweet 16 on Monday.
The No. 5 Lakers were edged 61-58 by No. 1 Ashland in the Midwest Regional Final of the NCAA Division II Tournament in the final seconds.
The Lakers, who reached the Final Four last season, finished two games short of repeating the feat and ended the season 31-3. Ashland improved to 34-0 and ddvanced to the Elite Eight.
Trailing most of the second half, GVSU pulled within 59-56 with 1:03 to go in the fourth quarter when Emily Spitzley was fouled attempting a 3-pointer, but made all three free throws.
GVSU's Hayley Smith blocked a shot, then Ellie Droste scored in the paint to pull the Lakers within 59-58 with 12 seconds remaining in the game.
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Ashland's Macy Spielman made two free throws to return the lead to three points with 11 seconds remaining.
The Lakers had one more chance with three seconds remaining but a Droste 3-point attempt was off the mark.
GVSU scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to give itself a chance, but being outscored 22-9 in the third quarter proved to be too much to overcome.
Droste led the Lakers with 25 points. Spitzley scored 13. Rylie Brisballe had 12 points and eigh trebounds.
Savaya Brockington led Ashland with 17 points.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: GVSU women's NCAA run ends in Sweet 16 with loss to No. 1 Ashland
