Box Score

The Lake Superior State University women's basketball team (1-6, 1-2 GLIAC) erased an 18-point second-half deficit behind 22 second-half points from Stephanie Fisher to clip Malone University (4-3, 0-3 GLIAC) on a buzzer-beater at Osborne Hall Thursday night, 73-71.

Fisher, who was held to just five first-half points, completed a stellar second half by receiving an in-bounds pass, traveling the length of the floor and knocking down a pull-up jumper from the free-throw line as time expired.  Fisher's buzzer beater came just moments after Malone junior Selana Reale had tied the game with an old-fashioned three-point play with five seconds to play.

The Pioneers led 37-30 at halftime thanks to 10 points from senior Deborah Simmers. The lead swelled to 48-30 just three minutes into the second half as the hosts stormed out of intermission on an 11-0 run. Then Fisher started to take over.

The junior guard scored 21 of her team's final 30 points, helping the Lakers to their first lead since the four-minute mark of the first half with three minutes to go, 68-66. With Malone trailing 70-68 with 15 seconds to play, Fisher split a pair of free-throws. After a timeout, senior Sydnee Penn, who tied for a team-high 14 points with Simmers, let fly a potential game-tying three-pointer. The shot fell short but Reale was first to the rebound. She was fouled on the follow-up effort, still managing to kiss the ball of the glass and through the net, sending her to the line for a chance to tie the game. The junior calmly netted the attempt, setting the stage for Fisher's heroics.

Sophomore Bri Libertore joined Penn and Simmers in double figures with 12 points to go along with eight boards. Junior Lindsy Snyder also had a nice game for Malone, scoring nine points and securing a game-high 12 rebounds.

Malone shot 41.2% from the field and just 22.2% from three-point range. The Lakers were a more efficient 45.0% on field goals and 36.4% from behind the arc. Malone out-rebounded Lake Superior State 45-38 for the game, but gave up 10 offensive rebounds to the Lakers in the second half after holding them without one for the game's first 20 minutes.

Malone returns to the court on Saturday, December 14th with a clash with the Northwood University (MI) Timberwolves at 1:00 p.m.  Live statistics will be provided during the contest at http://livestats.prestosports.com/malone/