DETROIT, Mich. - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team's season came to a close following a 81-63 loss to the Wayne State Warriors in the opening round of the 2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Basketball Tournament on Tuesday, March 2 at the Matthaei Basketball Facility in Detroit, Mich.
The Lakers got off to a strong start in the game, leading 11-4 in the opening three minutes of the game. Makenzie Bray scored back-to-back three pointers to give the Lakers a 6-0 lead over the Warriors.
Senior guard Taylor Bryant scored a three point basket to give the Lakers a 9-2 advantage over Wayne State. After the Lakers took a 13-5 lead, the Warriors went on a 15-point run to take a 20-13 lead in the game.
Bray added her third three pointer of the quarter when she scored with 1:55 left in the quarter (16-20) to spark a strong finish in the quarter. The Lakers scored 10 of the final 12 points of the first quarter to hold a 23-22 lead after ten minutes of play.
Freshman Jozie Bontrager scored her second three pointer of the game early in the second quarter as she regained the Lakers lead (26-25). The Warriors would have a strong second quarter, outscoring the Lakers, 22-12 and would take a 44-35 lead into the second half.
With 6:06 left in the third quarter, Bryant scored a three pointer and followed with a field goal a few minutes later to make it a 54-43 game. The third quarter would close with the Lakers trailing, 63-48.
Bray opened the fourth quarter with a three pointer to bring the Lakers within 12 points (63-51) but the Lakers would not be able to overcome the lead that the Warriors built. The game, and the Lakers season, would end as the Warriors won by a final score of 81-63.
Breaking Down the Game:
Bray finished the game with a season-high 23 points to lead the Lakers as she went 9-for-13 in the game, including 4-of-7 in three pointer attempts. Bray added three rebounds and two rebounds for the Lakers. Taylor Bryant ranked second on the team with 14 points as she went 6-for-10 in field goals in the game.
The Lakers finished the game with a 45.5 shooting percentage, going 25-for-55 against Wayne State. On the other end of the floor, the Warriors went 31-for-58 in the game to total a 53.4 shooting percentage. Lake Superior was outrebounded by Wayne State, 37-24, in the game.
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