Jan. 9, 2008

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State men's and women's basketball teams, which have not played Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games on the road since Nov. 28, travel to Hillsdale and Wayne State this week.

The Lakers play a double-header Thursday at Hillsdale beginning with the women's game at 6 p.m., followed by the men's game at 8 p.m. WSOO 1230 AM will broadcast both games on a tape-delay basis with coverage beginning after Sault High girls basketball. B2 Network coverage will not be available.

LSSU also travels to Wayne State for two games on Saturday. The women's game begins at 1 p.m., and the men's game follows at 3 p.m. A tape-delay feed of the men's game airs on WSOO 1230 AM at approximately 5:30 p.m. (following Sault High hockey). Live pay-per-view video feeds of both games will be available on the B2 Network.

The LSSU women's team is 6-9 overall and 2-5 in the GLIAC following last week's 61-56 victory over Saginaw Valley State and 68-65 loss to Northwood. Hillsdale (11-2 overall) is leading the GLIAC South Division with a 4-1 mark, including victories over Ashland (twice), Findlay and SVSU, and a loss to Northwood (which is off to its best start in school history). Wayne State is 5-6 overall and 1-3 in the GLIAC heading into today's game at Ferris State.

Junior center Jaclyn Armstrong is averaging 11.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game to lead the Lakers. Freshman guard Emily Joseph and senior guard Shalyn Beauchamp are both averaging 10.3 ppg. Beauchamp also leads LSSU in rebounds at 6.3 rpg and assists at 4.9 apg. Junior center Alyssa VanderWal leads in the GLIAC in blocked shots and is shooting 69.8 percent from the field.

The LSSU men's team (4-8 overall) is currently second in the GLIAC North Division with a 3-4 record. Last week, the Lakers bounced back from a 50-49 loss to SVSU with a 73-65 victory over Northwood that avenged an early-season loss. They have crept up in the standings thanks to a balanced offensive and defensive attack. Junior center Ryan Kuhl is averaging 12.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, followed by junior forward Tim VanOudheusden at 12.1 ppg and 5.1 rpg. Sophomore guard Scott Perkins is contributing 11 ppg and 5.2 rpg, followed by junior guard Mark Morse at 10.8 ppg.

The Hillsdale men's team (8-5 overall, 3-2 GLIAC) is in a three-way tie for second in the GLIAC South Division, while Wayne State (8-4 overall, 2-2 GLIAC) is close behind. The Chargers average a league-leading 84.8 ppg and 10.15 three-point field goals per game, while the Warriors are second in the league in steals (9.67) and turnover margin (+4.58).