Feb 11, 2009

Playoff picture starts to be a factor for Laker basketball teams

SAULT STE. MARIE - Positioning for the upcoming Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament is coming to the forefront as the Lake Superior State men's and women's basketball teams head into the last three weeks of the regular season.

GLIAC newcomer Tiffin will be making its first trip ever to Sault Ste. Marie on Thursday, and the Lakers play host to Ashland on Saturday. The LSSU-Tiffin women's game begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m. at Bud Cooper Gymnasium. The LSSU-AU double-header begins with the women's game at 1 p.m., followed by the men's game at 3 p.m. All four games will be broadcast live on WSOO 1230 AM.

LSSU is participating in the GLIAC Pink Wave/WBCA Pink Zone Initiative on Saturday. Both Laker teams will be wearing pink t-shirts, while the opposing players will don pink shoelaces. Visit www.lssulakers.com to find out how fans can play a part in the GLIAC's efforts to help wipe out breast cancer.

The LSSU men (15-6 overall, 12-4 GLIAC) lead the GLIAC North Division and are vying for a chance to host a first-round playoff game. The Lakers lead Grand Valley State by two games in the division and own the second-best overall league record. The top two teams in each division will host first-round tournament games.

The LSSU women (14-10 overall, 7-9 GLIAC) are third in their division and fighting to earn a berth after failing to qualify for the 2007-08 GLIAC Tournament. The Lakers have the league's sixth-best overall league record and are two games behind fifth-place Ashland (13-8 overall, 9-7 GLIAC). AU also gained a tie-breaker advantage after upsetting first-place Michigan Tech, 80-77 in overtime, last Saturday. The Eagles have won three straight games since going 1-6 in January.

The LSSU women hope to avenge December's two-point loss at Ashland and a 16-point setback at Tiffin (5-16 overall, 4-12 GLIAC). AU outscored the Lakers with second-chance baskets and points off turnovers, while Tiffin got off to a hot start and held on for the win. The Lakers have been working since that 2-5 road stretch to get to .500 in league play.

The LSSU men's team has also won three games in a row and 13 of its last 15 games. The Lakers' successful streak includes an 85-77 win at Ashland (9-11 overall, 7-9 GLIAC) on Dec. 12 and a 74-47 victory at Tiffin (2-19 overall, 1-15 GLIAC) on Dec. 20. They put forth two of their best defensive outings against the Eagles and Dragons, holding them to 21 and 17 field goals, respectively.

Lake Superior State is also gaining notice in the Midwest Region and cracked the top 10 in the men's region poll last week. The top eight teams in the region earn NCAA Tournament bids. LSSU last received a national tournament bid in 1996.

This is Tiffin's first year in the GLIAC. The LSSU men are 1-1 all-time against the Dragons, while the LSSU women are 0-1. Tiffin is in its 10th year of NCAA Division II status.

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