Lakers-Oilers clash comes down to second-half three-point shooting
FINDLAY, Ohio - Saturday's clash between 13th-ranked Lake Superior State and undefeated Findlay boiled down to a three-point shooting contest in the second half, and the Oilers prevailed on their own court, 60-57.
The Findlay women's basketball team, which improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, hit three three-pointers during a 1:45 span midway through the second half to build a 46-39 lead. After going 0-for-7 from three-point range in the first half, the Oilers were 6-for-13 in the second.
LSSU (6-2 overall, 0-2 GLIAC) battled back as Alyssa VanderWal and Ronlea Peterson converted three-point plays. The Lakers led 48-46 with 7:03 remaining.
VanderWal hit a jumper with 45 seconds remaining in regulation to tie it, 55-55. Findlay's Audra Mihalic answered with a three-pointer with 26 seconds to go, and the Oilers held on for the win.
LSSU was 5-for-11 from three-point range in the first half, which ended in a 27-27 tie. The Lakers made 3-of-10 triples in the second half. Peterson and Shelle Rochen were a combined 5-for-9 from behind the arc.
Peterson led the Lakers with 14 points and six rebounds, while Rochon finished with 11 points and Jackie Armstrong had 10. Armstrong also led in rebounds with nine despite struggling with foul trouble throughout the second half. In addition to Rochon, Annie Dykhouse provided a strong post presence coming off the bench and had five rebounds.
Mihalic led Findlay with 15 points. The Oilers shot 34 percent from the field and made 20-of-34 free throws. They were 13-of-17 at the line in the first half, while LSSU was 4-for-7.
LSSU shot 33.3 percent from the field and was 9-of-15 at the free-throw line. The Lakers held a 42-41 rebounding edge.
Lake Superior State continues its long December road stretch at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Ashland.
