MIDLAND, Mich. - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team fell to the Northwood University Timberwolves in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) game on Saturday, Feb. 12 by a final score of 89-57 at the Riepma Arena in Midland, Mich.
First Half:
After Northwood got on the board first with a three pointer from Ellie Taylor, Makenzie Bray made a layup to pull the Lakers within a point of the Timberwolves. Mattison Rayman made a pair of free throws at the 7:27 mark of the first period to keep the Lakers within a point (5-4) of Northwood.
By the halfway mark of the opening quarter, the Lakers trailed 10-8 as Bray made back-to-back field goals for her team. Bray's strong start continued as she made a three pointer with 3:48 left on the clock and made a jump shot in the same minute to keep it a two-point game. The first quarter ended with the Lakers trailing by seven points (20-13) as the Timberwolves closed out the quarter with a five point scoring run.
The Timberwolves continued to build their lead in the opening two minutes of the second quarter as they led by 13 points (26-13). As the second quarter played on, Northwood extended their lead to 15 points by the midway point (31-16). The Timberwolves finished out the second quarter outscoring the Lakers by a 23-6 margin to hold a 43-19 lead at the end of the first half.
Second Half:
The third quarter was high scoring between the two teams as the Timberwolves recorded 22 points and the Lakers scored 20 points. Northwood scored a layup in the first minute of the third quarter and Bray followed up with a three pointer in the next minute. The two GLIAC teams traded points through the middle stretch of the quarter but the Timberwolves held onto a 27 point lead with 6:34 left to play (55-28).
LSSU went on a five point run led by Rayman, who made three free throws in the stretch as the Lakers tried to spark a comeback. However, the Timberwolves offense maintained the lead and the home team led by 26 points at the close of the third quarter (65-39).
Rayman scored the first five points of the fourth quarter for the Lakers and sophomore Jozie Bontrager made a three pointer with 6:35 left in the game. The Lakers continued to see success from their three point shooters in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Hacker and Brittany Bowman each made three pointers for the Lakers and with 3:13 left in the game, the Lakers trailed by 24 points (79-55).
The Timberwolves clinched the GLIAC win by a final score of 89-57.
Breaking Down the Game: Bray led the Lakers with 19 points in the win as she went 8-for-15 from the field, including a team-high two three-pointers. 11 of Bray's 19 points came in the first quarter. Rayman also posted a double digit point total against the Timberwolves as she scored 17 points, which included 7-of-9 free throws. The junior forward led her teammates in rebounds as she posted 11 in the game, to total her ninth double-double of the season. Hacker rounded out the team's top three scorers in the game as she recorded nine points while also leading the team in assists with seven.
The Lakers finished the game with a 40.7 shooting percentage, going 22-for-54 in the game. On the other end of the floor, the Timberwolves went 37-for-72 in the game to total a 51.1 shooting percentage. Northwood outrebounded Lake State, 45-31, in the game.
What's Next
The Lakers will return home for a game against the Wayne State Warriors on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 2:30 p.m. in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium. The game was previously scheduled for Jan. 8 and was postponed due to COVID protocols going into effect within the LSSU program.
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