Dec. 4, 2007

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State men's and women's basketball teams play host to Gannon and Mercyhurst for the final time in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season action.

The Lakers take on Gannon in a double-header that begins with the women's game at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium, and the men's game follows at approximately 7:30 p.m.. Saturday's games against Mercyhurst begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. All four Laker games will be broadcast live on WSOO AM 1230 and simulcast on www.lssulakers.com. Pay-per-view video coverage is available on the B2 Network.

Both Erie, Pa., schools will be leaving the GLIAC at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season and will join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in 2008-09. Gannon and Mercyhurst joined the GLIAC in 1995-96.

The LSSU women are 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the GLIAC heading into Thursday's contest against Lady Knights (4-2 overall, 1-1 GLIAC), who had the league's best record of 15-2 last season. Three players currently score in double figures for GU, whose coaching staff includes former Laker point guard Randi Johnson. The Lady Knights graduated All-GLIAC First Team players Christina Jackson - the league's player of the year, and Casey England, but return second-team pick Ashley Lowdermilk.

Last weekend in Erie, Pa., the Michigan Tech women's team swept Gannon, 76-65, and Mercyhurst, 71-59, while Northern Michigan lost to GU, 80-79, and beat MC, 76-69. Lake Superior State, meanwhile, lost 81-66 at Northwood on Wednesday and dropped its home opener to Grand Valley State, 77-66, last Saturday.

Scoring was fairly balanced last week as freshman Emily Joseph averaged 11.5 points per game, senior Shalyn Beauchamp contributed 11.0 ppg and rookie Katherine LaPrairie chipped in 10.0 ppg to lead the Lakers.

Mercyhurst (1-6 overall, 0-2 GLIAC) is led by freshman Amy Achesinski, who is shooting 60 percent from the field, and averaging 19 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The 6-1 forward is the GLIAC's No. 2 scorer.

The LSSU men are 0-6 overall and 0-2 in the GLIAC following last week's 72-64 loss at Northwood and 78-61 home loss to No. 2-ranked Grand Valley State. The Lakers will have their hands full again this week as the Gannon men are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the GLIAC, and the Mercyhurst men are 4-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Gannon has landed at least four scorers in double figures in every game so far this season. The Golden Knights average 90.6 points per game to lead the GLIAC in scoring, and they are ranked third in team defense, allowing only 61.6 ppg. The GLIAC's No. 2 individual scorer, Gannon senior Vince Mosley, is averaging 19.0 ppg.

Mercyhurst entered a different starting lineup in all of its first seven games. Only senior guards T.J. Mathis (12.6 ppg, 4.1 rebounds per game) and Terry Smith (16.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg) have started every game.

Junior guard Tim VanOudheusden scored a career-high 24 points against GVSU to lead Lake Superior State last Saturday. For the week, he averaged 18.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and he shot 55 percent from the field. For the season, VanOudheusden is averaging 12.3 points per game. Junior forward/center Ryan Kuhl is averaging 12 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, followed by junior Mark Morse at 11.2 ppg.