Laker women prevail in overtime
SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team defeated Findlay 77-71 in overtime Thursday to avenge an early-season three-point road loss and break a tie with the Oilers in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
LSSU, Northern Michigan and Findlay all entered this week with 5-7 GLIAC records. The Lakers improved to 13-8 overall and 6-7 in the league heading into Saturday's home game against seventh-ranked Hillsdale. Findlay dropped to 10-8 overall and 5-8 in the league. Now they are currently tied for fifth place overall with Ashland.
Findlay led 35-31 at halftime and battled back from a 12-point deficit during the final eight minutes of regulation to send the game into overtime. UF's Maggie Gompers, who led all scorers with 23 points, hit a three-pointer with 27 seconds remaining to tie it, 65-65.
Jaclyn Armstrong scored underneath to start the overtime session on a good note for Lake Superior State. After snagging a rebound at the defensive end, center Alyssa VanderWal fed an outlet pass from under her own basket to Shelle Rochon at the top of the circle, and Rochon canned a three-pointer at 3:28 for a five-point LSSU lead.
Armstrong made another basket, and the Lakers made one free throw during each of three trips to the free throw line to reel off 10 unanswered points. LSSU held the Oilers scoreless for more than four and one-half minutes of the overtime period.
LSSU's balanced offensive effort included a double double by VanderWal, who totaled 17 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots. Joseph scored 17 points and had three steals, and Armstrong finished with 16 points and seven rebounds. Peterson totaled 13 points, five rebounds and two steals.
Lake Superior State shot 45.2 percent from the field, including 3-of-15 from three-point range, and made 18-of-24 free throws.
Findlay shot 41.5 percent from the field, including 11-of-28 at the free-throw line, and made 6-of-7 free throws. The Oilers out-rebounded LSSU, 37-36.
LSSU committed only 10 turnovers -- a much-improved performance after coughing up 23 turnovers during its first meeting with UF.
The Lakers play host to the Chargers at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
