SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team fell to the Ferris State Bulldogs by a final score of 54-47 on Tuesday, Feb. 16 in the Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. in the second game of a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) season series.
First Half
The Lakers and the Bulldogs played a tight first half with Ferris State holding a four point lead (30-26) following the first twenty minutes of play.
Sadie DeWildt gave the Lakers a 5-2 lead within the first two minutes of the first quarter when she made a three point jump shot. Mattison Rayman followed with her first two points of the game when she made a layup to give the Lakers a 9-7 lead,
After the Bulldogs went on a 10 point run, freshman Jaden Wilder scored a three pointer with 1:53 left in the quarter to bring the Lakers within five points (17-12). The Lakers finished the first quarter trailing by three points, 17-14.
In the second quarter, Rayman made a layup after securing a defensive rebound to cut the Bulldogs lead to two points (22-20). Rayman would lead the Lakers through the first half with nine points and seven rebounds.
Second Half
Lake Superior State would outscore the Bulldogs in the third quarter, 14-10 but Ferris State would respond in the fourth quarter to earn a 54-47 win.
Rayman (14 points) and Bray (7 points) would lead the Lakers in the second half as the pair combined for all 21 points.
Rayman got the Lakers on the board to start the third quarter with a layup and Makenzie Bray would add a layup with just under six minutes left in the quarter. With half of the third quarter played, the Lakers trailed by two points, 32-30.
Rayman made a pair of free throws to tie the game at 32 and Bray would give the Lakers a 34-32 lead with a layup. Later in the third quarter, Rayman would add another four points on a tip-in and a two made free throws to regain the lead for LSSU (38-36). The third quarter ended with the teams tied at 40 points a piece.
The Bulldogs would score the first five points of the fourth quarter (45-40) but Bray would respond with a three point jump shot. With 2:22 left on the clock, the game was tied at 47 points.
Ferris State would score the final seven points of the game to secure a 54-47 conference win.
Breaking Down the Game
Rayman led the team with a career-high 23 points in the game, marking her fifth consecutive game with double figures in points. In addition, Rayman posted a season-high 19 rebounds in the game for the Lakers. The sophomore forward would also register two assists and four blocks.
Bray finished the game with 13 points, which ranked second among the Lakers.
The Lakers finished the game with a 29.1 shooting percentage, going 16-for-55 against Ferris State. On the other end of the floor, the Bulldogs went 19-for-66 in the game to total a 28.8 shooting percentage. Lake Superior was outrebounded by Ferris State, 52-37, in the game.
What's Next
The Lakers will travel to Kenosha, Wisc. to play a pair of games this weekend against the Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers at the De Simone Gymnasium. The series will open on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 4:00 p.m. EST and wrap up on Sunday, Feb. 21 with a 4:00 p.m. EST tipoff.
Follow the Lakers
Due to State of Michigan, GLIAC and Lake Superior State University mandates, fans are not currently permitted to attend any Laker sporting events. Even though spectators cannot currently attend Laker home games, there are still a number of ways that fans will be able to follow the game action. All Laker home games during the 2021 season will be available to watch live on Stretch TV. For more information or to sign up for a subscription, visit https://portal.stretchinternet.com/lssu/. Fans can also tune in to the radio broadcast on ESPN 1400, the official radio station of Laker basketball.
For more information, visit lssulakers.com
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