Dara Capaldi showed up big-time in crunch time for Lake Superior State on Sunday.

She scored eight points with two steals and an assist in the final four minutes of the Lakers 74-70 loss to Wayne State (9-3, 4-0 GLIAC), slashing a 16 point deficit to just a three point gap in only five minutes of play. Capaldi took over down the stretch with tremendous on-ball defense and efficient scoring.

Capaldi finished the game with 19 points, four rebounds, three steals, and three assists in an excellent outing for Lake Superior State (3-9, 0-4 GLIAC).

With Head Coach Grace Howrigon calling for her team to get one stop late in the game and keep chipping away one possession at a time, Capaldi blew the roof off of the Bud Cooper Gymnasium with a steal and a score that slashed the lead to five at 71-66. LSSU got another stop, forcing a turnover that led to a Seyyane Matthew bucket. Just like that, a 16 point lead for Wayne State was gone, with a single possession separating the teams. But the Warriors managed to hang on for the win, hitting late free throws to stay barely ahead.

The game showcased many of LSSU's best characteristics - a team full of battlers that fights to the final bell; a young roster determined to make its mark; a coaching staff that makes adjustments to spark quality runs from the team; individuals that step up into the moment prepared to get things done with quality.

Grace Bradford scored 16 points with eight rebounds for Lake State, while plundering two steals. As a group, the Lakers stole the ball from Wayne State an astonishing 14 times,

Despite a poor shooting first half, the Lakers rallied to shoot 50% in the third quarter and 52% in the fourth. They connected for six second-half triples as well, showing their resiliency in clawing back late.

Lara Aguzzi hit two three-pointers off the bench, while Clare Conzelmann hit four shots from deep, scoring 14 points and grabbing six boards.

LSSU hits the road next week for GLIAC showdowns with Wisconsin Parkside on Thursday and Roosevelt on Saturday. They'll return home for U.P. rivalry showdowns against Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech on January 15th and January 17th, respectively. Buy your tickets online or at the Norris Center box office.