SAULT STE. MARIE - Despite playing with a depleted bench, the Lake Superior State women's basketball team scrapped its way to an 81-67 victory over Ohio Dominican on Thursday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

The Lakers (6-5 overall, 2-5 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) lost starting center Alex Morrow to injury in December, and are now without 6-2 freshman Michela Coury for the remainder of the season. Junior April LaCross, and freshmen Natalie Peterson and Tamara Novic are left to carry the load at the post position, and the threesome combined to total 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Senior forward Stephanie Fisher led the Lakers with 24 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. She was 12-of-13 at the free-throw line and scored 15 second-half points. Sophomore Kelsey Ance followed with season highs of 14 points, seven rebounds and five steals, and sophomore Crishauna Harper added 10 points.

Ance was also a second-half catalyst, contributing 10 points and five rebounds.

LSSU survived ODU's full-court pressure to lead 36-29 at halftime, then scored the first five points of the second half. Ohio Dominican (4-9 overall, 1-6 GLIAC) cut a 12-point deficit in half with six minutes to go, but Ance responded with a three-pointer, and Fisher added a layup after an offensive rebound by Mackenzie Edwards, giving the Lakers a 67-56 lead with 4:51 remaining.

Ance hit another three-pointer at 3:39 to make it 70-57.

ODU cut the it to nine points with 2:39 to go, but the the Lakers regained the double-figure lead during the final minute.

LSSU shot 40.6 percent from the field, including 5-of-21 from three-point range, and made 24-of-33 free throws. The Lakers out-rebounded ODU, 48-40.

Kacee Hockenberry totaled 14 points and seven rebounds to lead Ohio Dominican. Jackie Oestreich and Micaela Liddane added 10 points each. The Panthers shot 36.8 percent from the field, including 6-of-16 from three-point range, and made 19-of-31 free throws.

LSSU plays host to Tiffin at 1 p.m. Saturday.

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