Lakers vs. WMU
Lakers knock off 8-1 Lady Knights
SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State held its own on the boards against an opponent that averages 46 rebounds per game, and junior guard Emily Joseph netted a career-high 31 points as the Lakers beat Bellarmine 80-72 Tuesday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
LSSU (6-2), which trailed by as many as nine points in the first half, handed the Lady Knights their second loss of the season. Four players scored in double figures for the Lakers.
Lake Superior State fell behind early, but clawed its way within one point, 27-26, when Joseph hit a three-pointer at 2:47 of the first half. Joseph also made two free throws at 1:09 to tie it, 32-32. Bellarmine (8-2) led 36-34 at halftime.
The second half included five lead changes. Despite being out-scored 8-2 on second-chance points, LSSU retaliated by scoring 10 points off turnovers. The Lakers forced BU to commit 17 turnovers for the night and limited its turnover total to 10.
LSSU's key run started when sophomore center Cassy Schemberger scored in the post to cut Bellarmine's lead to 66-64 with 6:10 remaining. Schemberger also grabbed an offensive rebound that led to a field goal by Joseph. The Lakers reeled off 11 straight points that included two free throws by Joseph, a basket by Maria Blazejewski and a three-pointer by Ronlea Peterson, and led 73-66 with 2:47 to go. Nicole Marshall helped seal the win with another three-pointer at the 1:15 mark.
Joseph was 11-of-19 from the field, including 4-of-8 from behind the arc. She made 5-of-5 free throws and contributed six assists, five rebounds and two steals. Blazejewski added 14 points and five rebounds, followed by Schemberger with a career-high 13 points and five rebounds. Marshall finished with 11 points. Peterson totaled seven points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Shelle Rochon came off the bench to grab five boards.
LSSU shot 48.3 percent from the field, including 8-of-18 from three-point range. The Lakers were 16-of-21 at the free-throw line.
Kylie Brady and Jalissa Chatlos scored 17 points each to lead five Bellarmine players in double figures. Chatlos also had 11 rebounds, while Brittany Edelen totaled 10 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. The Lady Knights shot 42.6 percent from the field, including 9-of-19 from three-point range. They made 11-of-16 free throws and out-rebounded LSSU, 39-35.
The second round of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference vs. Great Lakes Valley Conference Women's Basketball Challenge begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday when the Lady Knights take on Northwood. LSSU plays St. Joseph's at 5:30 p.m. in Cooper Gym.
In the earlier game Tuesday, Northwood defeated St. Joseph's, 70-56.
LSSU, which has won five straight at home, improved to 2-1 against GLVC opponents in 2009-10.
