Lakers vs. WMU
Wayne State's hot first half pays off
SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State had no answer for Wayne State's relentless first-half attack.
The Warriors (6-15 overall, 4-12 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) shot 59 percent from the field as they built a 12-point lead 17 minutes into the first half of Saturday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball game. They cooled off to a mere 55.2 percent when they led 42-32 at halftime.
WSU shot only 35 percent in the second half, but kept Lake Superior State at bay and went on to win, 72-67, splitting the regular-season series.
LSSU (10-10 overall, 7-9 GLIAC), which trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half, cut the lead to five points, 66-61, with 2:36 remaining and closed within three, 67-64, with 1:02 to go. Laker Nicole Marshall hit a three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining to cut it to 69-67, then missed a game-tying attempt with two seconds left.
Emily Joseph totaled 19 points and five assists to lead four Laker double-figure scorers. Maria Blazejewski and Cassy Schemberger finished with 16 points each, and Marshall had 10 points and five assists. Schemberger also led the Lakers in rebounds with eight.
LSSU shot 41.8 percent from the field, including 4-of-16 from three-point range. The Lakers made 17-of-20 free throws.
Kiara Smith scored 12 points, and Deanna Crumpton and Chelsea Kouri added 10 each for Wayne State, which shot 45.6 percent from the field for the game. The Warriors were 7-of-17 from behind the arc and made 13-of-21 free throws. They out-rebounded LSSU, 37-33.
LSSU travels to Tiffin on Feb. 11.
