SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) women's basketball team (3-6, 1-1 GLIAC) came away with a 63-56 victory in their home-opener against the Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars (0-10) in a game in which they never trailed on Thursday.

Grace Bradford (Maple City, Mich.) opened up the scoring with a bucket down low as both teams battled early on, but the Lakers would then let it fly with threes from Breah Golden (Arcadia, Wis.) and Gracey Metz (Hartland, Mich.) to end the opening quarter on an 11-2 run to go up double digits.

Metz quickly got the ball up the court to Taylor Clarey (Rochester, Minn.) for a fast-break layup to open up the second quarter, but the Prairie Stars fought back, closing to within as close as two points despite a fast-break three from Metz. CeCe Hacker (Omaha, Neb.) would then find Bradford for a jumper before drawing a foul herself with 0.4 seconds on the clock to send the Lakers into the break ahead 30-25. 

In the third quarter, LSSU was able to seize the momentum in the second half with a 13-0 run to extend their lead to 47-33 after 30 minutes of action. 

Both teams went back and forth to start the final frame, but a 9-0 run by UIS had the Prairie Stars back within four with a little over two minutes left to play. However, the Lakers were able to make their way to the free throw line and close out the game at the charity stripe to secure the victory in their home opener, the first victory in Bud Cooper Gymnasium under the direction of first year head coach Grace Howrigon. 

Bradford led the team in scoring with 19 points while also dominating the glass with 16 rebounds for the double-double. Meanwhile, Golden also scored in double figures with 14 points of her own, and Jaden Wilder (Manton, Mich.) put together a strong defensive effort with 4 steals and a pair of blocks. 

The Lakers return to action on Saturday, Dec. 21 when they host the Upper Iowa Peacocks with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.