SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team was in a "must-win" situation heading into Saturday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Northern Michigan and got the job done, winning 63-48 in front of its largest home crowd of the season.

The final GLIAC Tournament berth came down to the second of two meetings between LSSU (16-14 overall, 9-13 GLIAC) and NMU (14-13 overall, 9-13 GLIAC). LSSU won the tie-breaker by beating the Wildcats twice during the regular season. The Lakers ended up the No. 7 seed in next week's GLIAC Tournament and will travel to No. 2 seed Hillsdale on Tuesday.

Seniors Jaclyn Armstrong, Alyssa VanderWal and Annie Dykhouse had strong showings in their final home game, played in front of nearly 700 fans. Armstrong led LSSU with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. VanderWal totaled 14 points and eight rebounds, and Dykhouse came off the bench to total six points and six rebounds.

Shelle Rochon scored 11 points, and Emily Joseph totaled eight assists.

LSSU held Northern Michigan to 32 percent shooting from the field and dominated the boards, 43-31. Armstrong and VanderWal combined to make 13-of-23 field-goals.

Lake Superior State led by as many as 12 points in the first half and 15 points, 43-28, early in the second half. NMU trimmed the lead to six points, 45-39, with 10:18 remaining.

VanderWal made three field goals, and Rochon contributed a three-pointer and two free throws as LSSU reclaimed control of the game with an 11-2 run. The Lakers held a comfortable 56-41 lead with 6:22 to go. LSSU shot 46.2 percent from the field, including 4-of-13 from three-point range.

Kelsey Deacon scored 13 points and Steffani Stoeger added nine to lead the Wildcats. NMU was 8-of-26 from behind the arc.

Box Score