Box Score Roosevelt's Brynne Katcher scored a layup with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter to put her team in front 52-50 over Lake Superior State.

And that was all they'd get.

Lake Superior State locked in, dominating defensively and scored the final seven points of the game to take a 57-52 win over Roosevelt (3-10, 2-4 GLIAC) in GLIAC play on Saturday afternoon.

Laker Head Coach Grace Howrigon said, "I told the team today, 'defense is your job.' I want to see you defend. I want to see you sit down and hold them under their averages. They did exactly that. It was just gritty. We're so player-led, our locker room is so incredible, it makes my job easier."

Chloe Watson scored four of her game-high 17 points in the closing minutes, putting LSSU in the lead with a jumper, then hitting a pair of free throws to extend that lead. The junior from Hemlock, Michigan played tremendously for Lake Superior State (4-10, 1-5 GLIAC), shooting 6-of-13 from the floor and hitting all four free throws. 

"She was fearless," Howrigon said. "The past two games. Today, she came in and unlocked that ball screen in the first half. She was just fearless. She hit her spots. She's a three-level scorer. We've been talking about her getting her hands on the game more, being assertive and aggressive. Really proud of her. She had a massive mid-range jumper at the end of the game. Well done by Chloe."

Grace Bradford posted a dominant line, scoring 16 points, gathering 12 rebounds, passing for three assists and stealing the ball five times. She produced a huge moment when she took to the skies with 4:37 remaining in the fourth quarter. Off a Laker miss, she ascended, soaring through the air for an offensive rebound and drawing a foul in the process. Bradford's incredible leap stunned the Goodman Center.

Howrigon watched with awe. "She jumped so high. She jumped like a senior who wanted to win a basketball game in that moment. My jaw dropped for two minutes after that. Just an incredible athlete who met the game with a fighting spirit today and wanted to win, so I'm proud of Grace."

The Lakers dominated the rebounding game as a team. Howrigon said matter-of-factly earlier in the season, "We rebound." And did they ever. 15 LSSU offensive rebounds to 20 Roosevelt defensive boards. That's an incredible margin that earned plenty of extra possessions and dictated the tempo the game was played at. On the other end, LSSU allowed just nine offensive boards to Roosevelt, while snatching 25. Add in ten steals and two blocks, and you've got a recipe for winning basketball games by creating chaos all over the floor.

Dara Capaldi scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds for LSSU.

Lake State takes on U.P. rivals Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech next week, hosting NMU on Thursday and the Huksies on Saturday. Buy your tickets online at or at Norris Center box office. Both games will be played as part of Laker Basketball GLIAC doubleheaders.