SAULT STE. MARIE - The second-ranked Ashland women's basketball team held Lake Superior State shotless during the first four and one-half minutes to take early control of Thursday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener.

The Eagles (7-0) led 12-0 midway through the first quarter and went on to win, 94-66 at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

Lake Superior State (1-6) was limited to three first-quarter field goals, but settled into a better flow as the game continued. Ashland held a 42-37 edge during the second half after leading 52-29 at halftime.

Jodi Johnson was 8-for-8 at the free-throw line and led Ashland with 17 points. Andi Daugherty followed with 15 points and Laina Snyder, added 14 points and nine rebounds. Johnson and Kelsey Peare combined to total 11 steals and AU forced 31 LSSU turnovers.

Ashland shot 53.1 percent from the field, including 19-of-23 at the free-throw line. The Eagles out-rebounded LSSU, 32-25.

Mackenzie Edwards scored 21 points and Valerie Veissner 18 to lead Lake Superior State. The Laker twosome combined to shoot an impressive 15-of-22 from the field, including 7-of-11 from three-point range. LSSU shot 48 percent from the field for the game for its second-highest percentage of the season. The Lakers made 11-of-12 free throws.

LSSU plays host to Tiffin at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Lakers will conduct a toy drive for the Salvation Army during Saturday's basketball double-header.