CANTON, Ohio - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team fought its way back from an 18-point deficit to beat Malone 73-71 Thursday and notch its first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win of the season.

Junior forward Stephanie Fisher scored 22 of her career-high 27 points, and sophomore center April LaCross scored eight of her 12 points during the second half. LSSU (1-6 overall, 1-2 GLIAC) trailed 37-30 at halftime and 48-30 with 17 minutes left in the second half. The Lakers quickly cut the deficit to 10 points thanks to back-to-back three-pointers by LaCross and a layup by Fisher.

Malone (4-3 overall, 0-3 GLIAC) maintained a double-digit lead until Fisher scored eight unanswered points midway through the second half, trimming the margin to four points, 55-51.

Fisher also canned back-to-back three-pointers at 4:19 and 3:36 to tie it, 66-66, and Alex Morrow made two free throws for a 68-66 LSSU lead with three minutes to go. Kandace Crittendon, who also finished with 12 points, extended the lead to 70-66 with a layup at 1:35. She helped secure the win with a steal with 23 seconds remaining.

Fisher, who has hit career highs in three straight games, was 9-of-17 from the field and grabbed six rebounds. Crittendon led the Lakers in rebounds with eight, followed by LaCross with seven. LSSU shot 45 percent from the field, including 8-of-22 from three-point range, and made 11-of-22 free throws.

Sydnee Penn and Deborah Simmers led Malone with 14 points each. The Pioneers shot 41.2 percent from the field, including 4-of-18 from behind the arc, and made 11-of-15 free throws. They out-rebounded LSSU, 45-38.

LSSU plays at Walsh at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Malone-LSSU Boxscore