Dec. 30, 2007

MIDLAND - After enduring second-half collapses in back-to-back losses to St. Cloud State and Bellarmine, the Lake Superior State women's basketball team contained St. Joseph's from start to finish to win Sunday's non-conference game, 77-48.

The Lakers (5-8) picked up a split during this weekend's GLIAC v. GLVC Challenge hosted by Northwood University and improved their record to 3-3 against Great Lakes Valley Conference teams. They resume Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at home Thursday with a 5:30 p.m. game against Saginaw Valley State.

LSSU cruised to a 41-21 halftime lead against St. Joseph's (1-8), then out-scored the Pumas 36-27 in the second half. In two previous games, the Lakers had been outscored by an average of 53-26 in the second half. This time, they held St. Joe to eight second-half field goals, although the Pumas were 4-for-7 from behind the arc during that span.

Shelle Rochon hit a three-pointer at 10:44 of the first half to give LSSU it's first double-digit lead, 21-10. Jackie Armstrong made two field goals, and Shalyn Beauchamp and Emily Joseph had one each during an eight-point run that extended the Lakers' lead to 36-16 with 3:42 remaining in the first half.

LSSU's biggest lead was 36 points, 72-36, with 6:16 remaining in the second half.

Beauchamp finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists to notch her second double double of the season. Alyssa VanderWal added 14 points and eight rebounds, and Armstrong turned in 13 points and six rebounds. Joseph and Rochon had nine points each. Rochon was 3-for-3 from three-point range.

LSSU shot 41.5 percent from the field, including 7-of-18 from behind the arc, and made 16-of-19 free throws. St. Joseph's shot 31.4 percent from the field, including 5-of-10 from three-point range, and made 11-of-21 free throws.

The Lakers out-rebounded the Pumas, 41-40.