How Paige VanStee, GVSU bench could be the biggest factor in an NCAA basketball title run
ALLENDALE - If it isn't tough enough to face the star-studded starting five of the Grand Valley State women's basketball team with the season on the line, the bench makes it nearly impossible.
The top-seeded Lakers have 12 players in their regular rotation, keeping the starters fresh but wearing down opponents who can barely take a breath as a second wave of Lakers swarm the ball and wreak as much havoc as the starters.
"We have said all year that we have 12 starters. We have players that have started and could start, and are really good players, but that is the way that works with our subbing pattern. We put the best groups together and our players have bought into that," GVSU coach Mike Williams said. "They are willing to do whatever it takes."
That has been on display all season, including a 87-54 win over Wayne State in the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament on Saturday night at the Grand Valley Field House.
"It is about trusting each other. We know the first five can get it done, and we want them to trust the second five to get it done," Paige VanStee said. "Going down the line, we all know that we are good enough."
The Lakers (34-2) will face Ashland at 7 p.m. Monday in the NCAA regional final round of 16 at home.
"They are one of the best teams in the country and have 22-23 wins in a row. They have great balance on the offensive end," Williams said. "They get in your space and make you work. There are 16 teams left and they are all good."
Wayne State ended the season 20-12 with four losses to GVSU.
"We saw the kind of team they are. It is tough to play a team in your region for a fourth time," Williams said. "We played one of our better games on both ends of the ball."
GVSU coach Mike Williams doesn't waste any time getting fresh legs in the backcourt as Elle Droste regularly checks in about two minutes into the game.
Droste started most of her career at GVSU including the Final Four season. An injury kept her out of the lineup for much of last year. Now she brings quick energy and is basically the team's sixth starter.
If that wasn't enough, Hadley Miller has been a starting guard as well. She rotates with starters Nicole Kamin, Molly Anderson and bench guards Avery Zeinstra and Lexi Plitzuweit.
That rotation tires out the legs of opposing guards.
Meanwhile, Paige VanStee and MacKenzie Bisballe are extremely strong post players and give little reprieve when GLIAC Player of the Year Rylie Bisballe exits.
VanStee-led bench dominates on both ends
The bench sparked a 22-6 advantage in the second quarter starting with two 3-pointers from Droste.
Then VanStee made two free throws, stole the inbounds pass and scored again and the Lakers led 46-21 at halftime.
Later in the game she had two offensive rebound on the same possesion, deflected several passes and hit a long 3-pointer.
Wayne State, like most opponents, couldn't stop VanStee, let alone the starters.
"Paige is a really talented player. She had an urgency tonight. She was really good and blew right by good players. When you can hit the outside shot, get in and score around the rim, it is a tough match," Williams said.
How does it work so well for the entire bench?
VanStee, a 5-10 forward from Middleville, finished with 15 points. She was 5-for-6 from the floor, made all four free throws, grabbed four rebounds, including three on the offensive side, and snagged two steals.
"My goal was to be ready at all times, mostly for defense. I was challenged in other games of the tournament to be ready on defense and it just rolled over to the offensive end with being prepared at both ends of the floor," VanStee said. "It was about us moving the ball - 20 assists to 11 turnovers is really good for us."
MacKenzie Bisballe also couldn't be stopped. She had 14 points and five rebounds, also three offensive, and blocked two shots.
"It is not about who is better, it is just playing for each other every game," Bisballe said.
Strong start again
In the first round win over Quincy, GVSU seemingly couldn't miss, starting 20-for-27 from the floor and 19-for-23 from inside the arc, going for 35 points in the first quarter.
Saturday's win was more of the same, though not quite as eye-opening with 24 points.
GVSU made its first five shots and 8 of its first 10 before "cooling off" to a 60% clip for the first quarter and 56% in the first half.
Rylie Bisballe had nine points in the first four minutes to once again set the tone. She finished with 19.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Paige VanStee, GVSU bench could be biggest factor in NCAA title run
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