Nov. 16, 2007

KENOSHA, Wis. - Senior Shalyn Beauchamp and junior Jaclyn Armstrong had double doubles to lead five Lake Superior State players in double figures as the Laker women's basketball team opened its season with a 70-63 victory over Lewis on Friday.

LSSU (1-0) avenged two straight losses to the Flyers dating back to the end of the 2005-06 season. The Lakers play Round Two of the GLIAC v. GLVC Challenge against host Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. CT.

Freshman Katherine LaPrairie was 6-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-6 from three-point range to lead LSSU in scoring with 15 points. Freshman Nicole Marshall added 13 points, followed by senior Danielle Makins with 12, Beauchamp with 11 and Armstrong with 10. Marshall was 3-for-4 from behind the arc.

Armstrong also totaled 12 rebounds, while Beauchamp had 10.

The Lakers played without starting point guard Ronlea Peterson, who was resting a nagging injury.

Three turnovers and a four-point play enabled Lewis to jump to a 13-4 lead during the opening five minutes. LSSU cut it to one point, 19-18, on two baskets by Armstrong and a LaPrairie three-pointer. Marshall canned a three-pointer with 56 seconds remaining in the first half to give LSSU its first lead of the game, 26-24.

The Lakers led 30-26 at halftime.

A 10-point run that included jumpers by Emily Joseph, LaPrairie and Armstrong, a three-pointer by Marshall and a free throw by Joseph put the Lakers up 49-38 with 11:13 remaining in the game. Lewis cut the deficit to three points, 56-53, with 5:30 to go, but LSSU regained a nine-point lead on six straight points by Makins.

LSSU protected its lead by making 7-of-8 free throws during the final minute.

LSSU shot 54.5 percent from the field and made 15-of-22 free throws. Lewis shot 36.9 percent from the field and made 9-fo-14 free throws. The Lakers out-rebounded the Flyers, 41-29.

Jenny Turpel led Lewis with 20 points and five rebounds.