Feb. 6, 2007
SAULT STE. MARIE - Upper Peninsula Rivalry Week continues in Sault Ste. Marie as the Lake Superior State basketball teams take on Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech at Bud Cooper Gym.
The LSSU women's team plays host to NMU at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, and the men's game will follow at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, LSSU will celebrate Laker Basketball Alumni Weekend and NCAA Take a Kid to the Game Day when the Lakers take on Michigan Tech in a double-header that begins at 1 p.m. All children age 14-and-under will receive free admission and receive a special TAKGD bracelet if they are accompanied by an adult who purchases a ticket. Laker players will also be available to sign autographs.
All four games will be broadcast live on WSOO 1230 AM and simulcast on www.lssulakers.com. Video streaming is also available on the B2 Network via LSSU's web site.
The Laker hockey team captured the Father Cappo Cup from NMU last weekend, and the Laker basketball teams are taking on the Wildcats less than a week later. In early January, the LSSU men's and women's basketball teams posted a combined 4-0 record against Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech for their first U.P. road sweep in school history.
Despite earlier success, the U.P. rivals will test both Laker teams.
The Laker women, who are second in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division with 15-6 overall and 10-3 league records, are battling to improve their Great Lakes Region ranking. They must finish in the top eight in region voting to earn a sixth straight NCAA Tournament berth, but they are currently unranked. As of this week, Great Lakes Valley Conference teams have filled seven of the top 10 region spots.
The Laker men, with 8-14 overall and 5-8 league records, are currently tied for fourth in the GLIAC North Division and are in contention for their first GLIAC Tournament berth since 2001-02. Heading into this weekend, Grand Valley and Findlay control the North and South Divisions, respectively, and 10 teams are in contention for the remaining six spots.
LSSU senior forward Mandi Johnson scored 14 points, sophomore Alyssa VanderWal had 12 and senior Monica Rehmann added 11 as the Laker women won 65-58 at NMU on Jan. 4. Johnson scored 27 points in a 73-64 win at MTU on Jan. 6.
The Laker women are coming off last weekend's hard-fought road split, which included a 53-47 loss at 12th-ranked Grand Valley and a 73-57 win at Saginaw Valley State. After losing by 17 points at home to GVSU earlier this season, the Lakers led Grand Valley throughout most of the rematch. GVSU took a two-point lead with 1:32 to go and held on for the win.
NMU (8-15 overall, 4-10 GLIAC) is 2-2 in its last four women's games with both losses occurring in overtime. The Wildcat women shot over 50 percent from the field in an 80-64 victory over Mercyhurst and 76-70 OT loss to Gannon at home.
MTU (15-7 overall, 9-5 GLIAC) has won four straight women's games, including a 75-61 home victory over South Division leader Gannon. The Huskies drained a season-high 12 three-pointers against the Lady Knights.
The LSSU men defeated NMU 77-75 and MTU 71-63 to record their historical road sweep. The Lakers, however, have lost four of their last five games. LSSU leading scorer Ryan Kuhl tied his career high when he scored 27 points in the Lakers' 90-78 loss at SVSU last Saturday. For the week, he averaged 18.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg, shot 55.2 percent from the field and made 4-of-4 free throws. Kuhl is ranked ninth in the GLIAC in scoring, averaging 15.5 ppg.
Northern Michigan (14-9 overall, 8-6 GLIAC) has won six straight as senior Ricky Volcy is averaging 21.7 ppg as the league's No. 2 scorer. He recorded his 11th double double of the season last week against Mercyhurst.
Michigan Tech (12-11 overall, 7-7 GLIAC) has won three of its last four men's games and is currently ranked eighth in the region. The defensive-minded Huskies held Gannon scoreless during the final 9:40 to secure a 58-44 win last Thursday.
