Jan. 26, 2008

SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State trimmed a 24-point deficit to single digits, but Ashland prevailed to win Saturday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball game, 67-61.

Ashland (12-7 overall, 5-4 GLIAC), which also picked up a big road win at Michigan Tech on Thursday, was led by Lisa Graue with 20 points and six rebounds.

The Eagles dominated the first half despite shooting only 39 percent from the field. They took advantage of 14 LSSU turnovers to build a 38-21 lead. They extended the lead to 24 points, 49-25, with 15:52 remaining in the second half.

LSSU went on an 11-0 run to close the gap to nine points, 55-46, with 8:08 to go, and eventually moved to within five, 59-54, with 3:44 left. AU's Betsy Morrison scored on back-to-back post moves to regain a nine-point Eagle advantage with 2:23 remaining.

Shalyn Beauchamp hit a three-pointer with 14 seconds left to cut it to four points, 65-61. Graue closed out the scoring with two free throws.

Beauchamp piloted the Lakers with 14 second-half points and finished with 18. She also had four assists.

Katherine LaPrairie added 11 points for the Lakers, and Emily Joseph and Jaclyn Armstrong had eight each.

LSSU shot 38.2 percent from the field, including 6-of-20 from three-point range. They Lakers were 13-of-14 at the free-throw line.

Ashland shot 41.3 percent from the field, including 2-of-9 from behind the arc. The Eagles made 13-of-17 free throw and out-rebounded the Lakers, 40-34.

LSSU finished with 23 turnovers, while Ashland had 17.

The Lakers (8-12 overall, 4-8 GLIAC) play host to Northern Michigan at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.