SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State University women's basketball program (5-11, 2-6 GLIAC) narrowly fell to the Warriors of Wayne State (9-7, 2-6 GLIAC) by a final score of 53-52 on Thursday. 

CeCe Hacker (Omaha, Neb.) opened up the scoring with a three as the Lakers climbed out to an early 5-0 advantage. The Warriors would come back to tie the score, but the Lakers would once again pull out in front, this time with multiple buckets from Margot Woughter (Traverse City, Mich.). Wayne State was able to take a one point lead into the second quarter, and both teams would then go back and forth as the lead changed hands four more times with the Warriors holding onto a 25-22 lead going into the halftime break. 

True freshman Grace Bradford (Glen Arbor, Mich.) immediately tied up the score with a three to open the second half and kick off a 9-0 scoring run to retake the lead and push out ahead. The Warriors kept fighting back, but Gracy Metz was there to score back-to-back baskets to put her team back up by 12 before Wayne State closed to within eight going into the fourth quarter of action.

The Warriors made another push early in the fourth, but Woughter and Bradford were there with the response to put their team back up by double-digits. However, the Warriors were able to put together a 13-0 run to take a late lead before Mattison Rayman (Otsego, Mich.) tied the game up at 52-52 at the free throw line, and Wayne State would hit a game-winning free throw with two seconds left on the clock to break the Lakers' hearts.

Woughter led the way offensively with 14 points while Rayman was not far behind with a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double of her own. Meanwhile, Bradford led all players in rebounding with 13.

The Lakers will look to bounce back when they take on the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals on Saturday, Jan. 21 with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.