Lakers relish playoff atmosphere

SAULT STE. MARIE – The Lake Superior State men’s and women’s basketball teams enjoyed a playoff atmosphere while competing in front of over 500 fans during last week’s home games against Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech.

The LSSU women’s basketball team is in contention to host a playoff game during the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, and that scenario most-likely requires the Lakers winning the rest of their regular-season games, including Saturday’s home finale against Northwood.

The Laker men’s and women’s teams play a double-header against the Timberwolves beginning at 1 p.m. at Bud Cooper Gymnasium. Both games will be broadcast live on Talkradio 1400. Seniors Micah Hudson, Justin Williams, Andrew Charlesworth, Allison Jaynes, Emily Joseph, Ronlea Peterson, Alyssa Loney and Nicole Marshall will be recognized between games.

“We’ve wanted to host since we were freshmen,” noted Marshall, a senior guard. “Being a senior, going out by hosting a tournament game would be amazing. When you’re at home, the atmosphere, with all the families coming – Well, the families are there when we’re on the road, but it’s not the same. Here, there are the students, the other athletes, the alumni.”

The LSSU women, who are 15-7 overall and 12-4 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, face a Northwood team that is climbing its way back from an injury-plagued 2009-10 season. The Timberwolves (13-9 overall, 9-7 GLIAC), who are 10-2 during their last 12 games, are still in the hunt for a GLIAC Tournament berth. LSSU has clinched its spot in the tournament, but has yet to secure home-court advantage for the first round. The Lakers close out the regular season next week at Findlay and Wayne State.

LSSU is coming off a 70-68 overtime loss to eighth-ranked Michigan Tech. The Lakers dropped to 1-2 in overtime contests, which have all been against opponents ranked in the NCAA Midwest Region Poll, which determines NCAA Tournament bids.

“Last year we could never finish the close games, those big games we were supposed to win,” Marshall said. “This year, our goal is to buckle down in those games, make the clutch shot and play defense well. Basically, if we’re playing good defense, our offense is clicking.”

In December, senior guard Emily Joseph scored 16 points, and junior center Cassy Schemberger totaled 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Laker women beat Northwood 64-49 despite shooting only 35.7 percent from the field. They made 17-of-17 free throws in that contest and held NU to 31.7 percent from the field.

The LSSU men (14-9 overall, 8-8 GLIAC) hope to celebrate Senior Day by avenging December’s nine-point loss to the Timberwolves. The Lakers are 1-4 during their last five games, losing the four games by an average of eight points, while Northwood (9-16 overall, 6-10 GLIAC) is 1-3 in its last four with the same losing margin. NU lost at home Saturday, 85-80 in overtime, to Saginaw Valley State.

The Laker men are currently tied for third with SVSU in the GLIAC North Division and lead Michigan Tech by a half game. Findlay, Hillsdale, Wayne State, Grand Valley State and Ferris State have clinched berths in the men’s GLIAC Tournament.