Jan. 3, 2008

SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State shooters had a big night, shooting 54 percent from the field, to beat Saginaw Valley State 61-56 in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball showdown Thursday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

LSSU post players Alyssa VanderWal, Jaclyn Armstrong and Danielle Makins were a combined 14-of-17 from the field and scored 32 points. VanderWal finished with 13 points and five rebounds, and Armstrong followed with 12 points and seven rebounds. Makins was 3-for-3 from the field and chipped in seven points and five rebounds.

Freshman guard Emily Joseph added 12 points for the Lakers, who improved to 6-8 overall and 2-4 in the GLIAC.

Although both teams scored 29 second-half points, the LSSU shot an impressive 55 percent from the field and limited SVSU to 33.3 percent (9-of-27).

Lake Superior State led by eight points, 35-27, early in the second half, but the scoring margin was only one to five points throughout the final 15:41.

SVSU (6-6 overall, 1-4 GLIAC) tied it, 54-54, with 2:56 remaining. A put-back by Armstrong gave the Lakers a 56-54 edge with 1:51 to go.

The Cardinals missed a field-goal attempt after calling a 30-second timeout at 1:34. VanderWal helped ice the win with a jumper at the 48-second mark. Allison Jaynes and Joseph were a combined 3-for-4 at the line when SVSU was forced to foul.

LSSU was 9-of-14 at the free-throw line and made 6-of-19 three-point attempts. The Lakers out-rebounded SVSU, 34-31.

Four players scored in double figures for the Cardinals, who were 9-of-10 at the free-throw line and 7-of-19 from behind the arc.

LSSU plays host to Northwood at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Lakers will try to avenge an early-season 81-66 loss to the Timberwolves.