Feb. 2, 2008

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team played its best game of the year for the three seniors playing in their final home game Saturday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

LSSU and No. 23 Michigan Tech went toe to toe, and the Huskies prevailed, 64-58.

MTU (17-4 overall, 10-2 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) made a string of four three-pointers between 8:46 and 5:47 to turn a five-point deficit into a five-point lead, 46-41.

The Lakers (9-13 overall, 5-9 GLIAC) cut it to one point, 46-45, on back-to-back lay-ins by Jaclyn Armstrong, but the Huskies' Katie Wysocky answered with two free throws and a field goal. MTU maintained the three to five-point lead during the final four minutes.

"I don't think we could have played much better," LSSU coach Jamie Pewinski said. "We missed a couple shots, but we were playing so hard defensively. And Tech is such a good team."

Tara Ferris was 4-for-7 from three-point range and led Michigan Tech with 17 points, while Katie Zimmerman was 5-for-7 from behind the arc and had 15 points.

Senior Shalyn Beauchamp led LSSU with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. Emily Joseph and Armstrong followed with 15 points each. Alyssa VanderWal led the Lakers in rebounds with six, while four players and five each.

LSSU shot 40 percent from the field, including 3-of-12 from three-point range. The Lakers were 11-of-15 at the free-throw line.

Michigan Tech shot 35.1 percent from the field, but made 10-of-22 three-point attempts. The Huskies were 14-of-17 at the free-throw line and out-rebounded LSSU, 40-32.

Both teams finished with 20 turnovers.

Seniors Beauchamp, Danielle Makins and Amanda Epolito were recognized following the game.

The Lakers play at Grand Valley State on Feb. 14.