SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team (4-9, 1-4 GLIAC) return home for a pair of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchups in Bud Cooper Gymnasium when they host the Rangers of Wisconsin-Parkside on Thursday before taking on the Purdue Northwest Pride two days later.

The Lakers are coming off of a loss at Ferris State to open up the new year, and they will be looking to give themselves an advantage on the glass in order to bounce back as they are led by the top two rebounders in the conference in Mattison Rayman (Otsego, Mich.) (10.8) and Grace Bradford (Glen Arbor, Mich.) (9.6).

The Rangers currently boast an 8-7 overall record with a 4-2 mark in conference play, including forcing overtime before ultimately falling to No. 4 Grand Valley State. The Lakers will need to contain three-time All-GLIAC First Teamer and reigning GLIAC Player of the Year Alyssa Nelson who is currently averaging a league-leading 21. 6 points per contest. 

The Pride enter the weekend with a 5-11 overall record, including recently picking up their first GLIAC victory of the season after defeating Davenport by a score of 76-68 to snap a nine-game losing streak, and they will travel to Ferris State on Thursday before concluding the weekend against the Lakers in the Soo. Offensively, they boast nearly four players that average double-digit scoring, led by Tadriana Heard and Dash Shaw who average 19.3 and 17.6 points, respectively.