Jan. 24, 2008

SAULT STE. MARIE - Two schools still battling for a spot in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments square off Saturday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

Lake Superior State takes on Ashland in a doubleheader that begins with the women's game at 1 p.m. The men's game follows at 3 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on WSOO 1230 AM and simulcast on www.lssulakers.com.

The LSSU women are 7-11 overall and 3-7 in the GLIAC heading into tonight's game at Saginaw Valley State. Ashland is 10-7 overall and 3-4 in the GLIAC prior to tonight's game at Michigan Tech. The Lakers are in a must-win situation, but have not been mathematically eliminated from the wild card spot. The Eagles are currently third in the South Division and only 2 ½ games out of first place.

LSSU is coming off last Saturday's 86-73 win at Findlay, where the team shot a season-high 54.9 percent from the field. The Lakers have been improving their "inside-out" game as post players Jackie Armstrong, Alyssa VanderWal and Danielle Makins have been shooting a combined 54.8 percent from the field, and rookie guards Katherine LaPrairie, Nicole Marshall and Shelle Rochon are coming off the bench and shooting a combined 45.8 percent from three-point range.

Armstrong is averaging 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game to lead the Lakers, while senior guard Shalyn Beauchamp is contributing 11.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 4.9 assists per game. VanderWal (6-3) leads the GLIAC in field-goal percentage (.699) and blocked shots. She will be matched up with AU junior Jessica Minch (6-0), who is the league's second-leading shot blocker.

The LSSU men are 4-11 overall and 3-7 in the GLIAC, while Ashland is 9-8 overall and 3-4 in league play. GLIAC Tournament berths are well within reach for both squads. The Lakers are two games behind Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan and Ferris State, who are tied for third at 3-5, and they have yet to play MTU and NMU.

Junior center Ryan Kuhl is back to his All-GLIAC form after struggling with a pre-season knee injury during the first half of the season. He is averaging 13.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg, and is shooting 51.9 percent from the field. He has averaged 18.0 ppg in his last four outings.

Sophomore guard Scott Perkins is averaging 12.0 ppg and 4.9 rpg, and is ranked sixth in the GLIAC in assists per game (3.87) and 10th in three-point field-goal percentage (.432). Junior guard Tim VanOudheusden, who has been successful at getting to the free-throw line this season, is contributing 12.1 ppg.

The Lakers will be looking for redemption at SVSU after letting a 10 point lead slip away during the final six minutes of a 50-49 home loss to the Cardinals on Jan. 3.

The Ashland men's team averages 81.1 ppg and leads the league in free-throw percentage. AU and LSSU are ranked 11th and 12th, respectively, in points allowed, so look for defense to be the deciding factor between these two squads.