HILLSDALE - Tenth-ranked Hillsdale built an early 15-point lead and held on to beat 13th-ranked Lake Superior State 71-61 Thursday during the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball opener for both teams.

LSSU senior Jackie Armstrong scored a season-high 24 points to lead the Lakers (6-1 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) and surpass the 1,000-point career scoring milestone. Senior Alyssa VanderWal added 12 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore Emily Joseph had 12 points.

Armstrong and VanderWal had their hands full at the defensive end as Hillsdale All-American Katie Cezat led the Chargers (5-0 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) with 17 points and 21 rebounds. She was one of five players to score in double figures for Hillsdale, which had only seven players see action.

Hillsdale's Chelsea Harrison made back-to-back three-pointers and scored eight points during a 15-4 run that put the Chargers ahead, 34-19, with 3:26 to go in the first half. LSSU cut the lead to 34-23 at halftime.

Lake Superior State closed within seven points early in the second half, but Hillsdale regained the 15-point lead, 50-35, near the 12-minute mark. The Chargers built their biggest lead, 62-45, with 7:26 remaining. The Lakers made a final run, cutting it to seven points again, but Hillsdale protected its lead during the final 1:58.

LSSU shot 37.1 percent from the field, including 3-of-13 from three-point range, and made 12-of-15 free throws. Hillsdale shot 43.1 percent from the field, making 8-of-11 three-pointers, and was 13-of-19 at the line. Both teams totaled 39 rebounds.

The Lakers play at Findlay at 1 p.m. Saturday.

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