Dec. 15, 2007

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team played another outstanding first half and rallied back from a 10-point deficit midway through the second half, but it was Ferris State that prevailed, 85-76, during Saturday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

Junior Jackie Armstrong and freshman Katherine LaPrairie came off the bench to score 17 first-half points and help the Lakers lead 38-36 at halftime.

Ferris State (7-1 overall, 3-0 GLIAC), which has won six straight games, went on an 11-3 run early in the second half to build a 56-46 lead. Armstrong hit a jumper, and Laker Emily Joseph made a three-pointer to stop the Bulldogs' momentum.

Nicole Marshall came off the bench to hit a three-pointer, and Armstrong added back-to-back baskets as LSSU (3-6 overall, 1-4 GLIAC) tied it, 61-61, with 9:27 remaining.

Ferris State responded with a 10-point run and claimed a decisive 71-61 lead with five minutes to go. The Bulldogs eventually extended their lead to 14 points.

Armstrong finished with a season-high 24 points, and Joseph followed with 15. Laprairie had eight points, and Alyssa VanderWal contributed seven points and a team-high nine rebounds.

GLIAC pre-season player of the year Rachel Folcik led all scorers with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Caitlin Hutchison added 25 points for the Bulldogs. FSU out-rebounded LSSU, 37-34.

Ferris State shot 55.9 percent from the field, including 61.5 percent in the second half. The Bulldogs were 16-of-20 at the free-throw line, and 3-of-11 from behind the arc.

LSSU shot 42.4 percent from the field, including 40.9 percent (9-of-22) from three-point range. The Lakers were 11-for-16 at the foul line.

Lake Superior State finished 1-3 during its recent four-game homestand. The Lakers, who play their next four games on the road, travel to Minnesota-Duluth on Friday, Dec. 21. Game time is 7 p.m. EST.