SAULT STE. MARIE - A 9-0 Saginaw Valley State run late in the second quarter decided the Lake Superior State women's basketball team's fate against the No. 1 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division team Thursday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

LSSU (5-21 overall, 3-16 GLIAC) otherwise held its own against the Cardinals during a 60-51 loss. During the run, SVSU (20-5 overall, 16-3 GLIAC) extended a four-point lead to 15 points, 29-14, with 2:52 to go in the second quarter and led 31-19 at halftime. The Cardinals took advantage of an 8-0 advantage in points off turnovers during the period.

Lake Superior State regrouped and stayed even with SVSU throughout the third quarter. In the fourth, the Lakers trimmed a 17-point deficit to eight points, 54-46, with 2:44 remaining. They answered SVSU down the stretch, but couldn't get any closer.

Saginaw Valley State post player Emily Wendling, who ranks second GLIAC scoring and fourth in rebounding, led the game with 23 points and six rebounds. Despite her dominance, LSSU held a 34-30 rebounding edge over the Cardinals, who rank third in the league as a team in rebound margin. The Lakers also limited SVSU to 0-for-8 shooting from behind the arc, but succumbed to 18 turnovers.

LSSU junior center Tamara Novic led the Lakers with 15 points and seven rebounds, and senior guard Mackenzie Edwards added 13 points and eight rebounds. Claire Radtke and Val Meissner contributed five rebounds each. Freshman Lexie Khon finished with 11 points for her second double-figure performance in five games.

LSSU shot 40.4 percent from the field, including 3-of-11 from three-point range, and was 10-of-14 at the free-throw line. SVSU shot 41.5 percent from the field and made 16-of-20 free throws.

Edwards, who is the Lakers' lone senior, will be recognized following Saturday's game against Wayne State. LSSU plays its final regular-season home game at 1 p.m.