By now, everybody has heard at least once that defense wins championships. 

If that prophetic saying holds true for the Grand Valley State women’s basketball team in 2018, they should be getting some rings shortly.

In their first game following the gut-wrenching loss to No. 1 Ashland, the Lakers dismantled the Tiffin Dragons 73-29 on Saturday, Feb. 17. It was the first time GVSU had held an opponent to under 30 points in a game since 2005.

“We talked about our kids being absolutely dialed in and ready,” said GVSU head coach Mike Williams. “You can’t relax against this team because they come off the screen and boom—they shoot in your face or they come at you and all of a sudden back cut. I thought our kids did that. They did a really, really good job of being locked in and trying to take away or at least alter their shots. Because if you just let them get a free look, they make it.”

The Laker defense stifled the Dragons who, aside from their 13 points in the third quarter, failed to score in double digits in each period. GVSU held Tiffin to 21.8 percent from the field, as well as their 13.8 percent from 3-point range.

Tiffin never led and committed 23 turnovers.

“We did a lot of the little things right,” said senior center Korynn Hincka. “We had a little bit of a letdown (Thursday against Ashland), but we found a way to fight back and stuff and just having energy with a game like that. Just making sure you’re doing the little things right.”

Center Cassidy Boensch led GVSU with 21 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks on 7-9 shooting, while guard Jenn DeBoer added 12 points and seven boards.

The win was part of a bittersweet day for the Lakers as they celebrated Senior Day for their senior class comprised of Hincka and forward Taylor Parmley, who did not play after injuring her knee against Ashland.

“I’m okay. Definitely have a torn ACL, but life goes on,” Parmley said. “I don’t want to seem like I’m okay with it—I’m definitely sad—but there’s other ways that I can impact this team.

“I’m going to be the biggest cheerleader on the bench. … I can help calm their nerves or pick them back up after they make an error. I’m just going to kind of be their sounding board and help them through mentally whatever they’re going through.”

Before tip-off, Hincka and Parmley—who have been together as teammates, roommates and friends since their freshman years at GVSU—were walked out to midcourt by their parents and honored by the program for their leadership and contributions both on and off the court for the Laker basketball name.

“It’s kind of hard to believe that it’s here and it’s been four years,” Hincka said. “You think coming in freshman year, four years is a long time, but it flies by.”

Now at 21-5 (14-4 GLIAC), the Lakers will finish up the regular season with one last road trip, first visiting Lake Superior State (2-21, 1-17 GLIAC) on Thursday, Feb. 22, and then closing out the season against Ferris State (14-14, 7-11 GLIAC) on Saturday, Feb. 24.