LSSU photo by Billie McLeod

SAULT STE. MARIE - Junior forward Stephanie Fisher scored 11 points as Lake Superior State took off to a 15-3 lead during the first 4 1/2 minutes of Monday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball game, but league leader Wayne State looked to its inside combination of Shareta Brown, Ashley Wilson and Imari Redfield to beat the Lakers 81-71.

Brown, who is the GLIAC's leading scorer averaging 21.4 points per game, totaled 25 points and 19 rebounds against LSSU (5-16 overall, 5-10 GLIAC). She had a double double of 16 points and 12 rebounds by halftime.

LSSU trimmed a 15-point deficit to six points, 67-61, when Megan Manninen canned a three-pointer to cap a 9-0 run with 3:30 remaining in the game. Kandace Crittendon scored four points during the run.

Wayne State responded with back-to-back layups by Kristen Long and Jackie Jones.

Wayne State (17-2 overall, 14-1 GLIAC) helped its own cause by making 23-of-28 free throws for the night.

Fisher finished with 19 points and three steals to lead LSSU. Laura VanEs followed with 17 points and 12 rebounds for her third consecutive double double. Raven Trammell turned in 13 points, and Crittendon totaled nine. Crittendon and Manninen added five assists each.

LSSU shot 40.3 percent from the field, including 8-of-26 from three-point range, and made 9-of-14 free throws. A major bright spot for the Lakers was their ability to match WSU in team rebounds, 39-39. The Warriors entered the game leading the GLIAC in rebound margin at +8 and scoring offense (83.3 ppg).

Redfield scored 14 points and Jones added 13 for Wayne State. The Warriors shot 46.6 percent from the field, including 4-of-13 from behind the arc.

LSSU plays at 6 p.m. Thursday at Saginaw Valley State.

LSSU-WSU Boxscore