INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - It was well worth the wait.

Five players scored in double figures for the Lake Superior State women's basketball team, which opened the season Friday with an 87-62 victory over Great Lakes Valley Conference opponent Illinois-Springfield during the first round of the UIndy Thanksgiving Classic.

The Lakers, getting their latest start since Thanksgiving weekend of 1994, take on 10th-ranked Indianapolis at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Indy whipped Oakland City 93-39 in the other first-round game.

LSSU outscored Illinois-Springfield by 20 points in the second half to pull away from a 35-30 halftime lead. The Lakers shot 55.2 percent from the field in the second half and 47.5 percent for the game.

Emily Joseph led LSSU with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, followed by Nicole Marshall with 13 points and five rebounds, and Ronlea Peterson with 12 points, five assists and three steals. The Lakers' balanced effort also included rookie Maria Blazejewski with 10 points and six rebounds, Allison Jaynes with 10 points, and Shelle Rochon with nine points, five rebounds and three steals.

Peterson made a three-pointer at 16:57 of the second half, and Jaynes followed with back-to-back three-pointers to give LSSU a 50-37 lead with 15:30 to go. A 9-1 run that included scoring from four different players extended the Lakers' lead to 68-48 inside the eight-minute mark.

Peterson was 3-for-4, and Jaynes and Sarah Cubr were 2-for-2 as LSSU made 14-of-26 three-pointers for 53.8 percent. The Lakers were 17-of-23 at the free-throw line.

Paulina Pogorzelski scored 16 points to lead Illinois-Springfield, which shot 37.5 percent from the field, including 5-of-16 from three-point range. UIS made 15-of-20 free throws and out-rebounded LSSU, 35-34.

LSSU vs. UIS