SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State University women's basketball program (6-17, 3-12 GLIAC) came away with a 72-62 victory over the visiting Warriors of Wayne State (12-10, 5-9 GLIAC) on Saturday.

Both teams battled early as Kelly Olthof (Ferrysburg, Mich.) gave the Lakers a slim 10-9 lead. Amanda Roach (Hartland, Mich.) would then drive in for a layup that had her team leading 14-13 after the opening quarter of action.

The Warriors were able to take the lead midway through the second quarter before Gracey Metz (Hartland, Mich.) responded with a three to put the Lakers back on top. Wayne State would then tie the score at 21-21, but Metz once again hit from beyond the arc to keep the momentum in the hands of LSSU. However, the Warriors managed to end the half on an 11-0 run to take a 35-28 advantage into the halftime break. 

The Warriors nursed their lead early in the second half, but midway through the third quarter, the Lakers fought back with an 11-2 run to retake the lead that featured multiple trips to the free throw line from Mattison Rayman (Otsego, Mich.) and another three from Metz. Both teams would then go back and forth, but it was still anyone's game as the Lakers found themselves entering the fourth quarter only trailing 45-43.

The Lakers struck quickly to open the final frame with a 9-0 run to press ahead as they took the lead with a three from Margot Woughter (Traverse City, Mich.), and they never looked back as the Lakers iced the game away at the charity stripe to secure the 72-62 victory over the Lakers.

Rayman led all players in scoring with 24 points, including 14 from the free throw line, while also securing eight rebounds and blocking three shots on the defensive end of the floor. Woughter finished with 16 points, and Metz joined her teammates in double-figure scoring with 13 points of her own. Meanwhile, despite not having her typical production offensively, true freshman Grace Bradford (Glen Arbor, Mich.) was still able to make a key impact on the game by grabbing 13 rebounds.

The Lakers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 18 when they host the Ferris State Bulldogs inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium for Senior Day with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.