SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — The Lake Superior State women's basketball team begins regular season play this weekend with a pair of games as part of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/Great Midwest Athletic Conference Crossover.

Lake Superior faces Walsh University at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Malone University at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday in Canton, Ohio. Both games are being played at neutral sites. The game with Walsh is being played at Malone and the game with Malone is being held at Walsh.

Last Time Out:

The Lakers defeated NCAA Division III institution Olivet College 97-75 in an exhibition game on Oct. 27 at Bud Cooper Gymnasium. 

As a team, Lake Superior shot 56.7 percent from the field and went 17-of-24 from the free-throw line.

Junior Claire Radtke, who averaged 7.3 points per game last season, led the Lakers with 17 points in the exhibition contest. Sophomore Rebecca Villanueva added 16 points off the bench for Lake Superior. 

Scouting Walsh: 

Walsh's game against the Lake Superior is its first of the 2018-19 season. Last Season, the Cavaliers played to a 21-9 record and made it to the semifinals of the GMAC Tournament where they lost to Findlay 70-59.

Sophomore Mayci Sales returns for Walsh after averaging 10.1 points per game on 51.2 percent shooting as a freshman.

The Lakers last played the Cavaliers on Dec, 17, 2016 with the Cavaliers prevailing in overtime 83-80 inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

Scouting Malone:

Malone opens its season with a home game against Wisconsin Parkside on Friday before facing Lake Superior on Saturday. In 2018-19, the Pioneers played to a 10-16 record.

Junior Holly Groff returns for Malone after averaging 11.2 points per game as a junior.    

The Lakers lost their last meeting with the Pioneers 80-68 on Nov. 17, 2017 at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

Looking Ahead:

The Lakers return to the court at Ohio Valley University at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 15 in Vienna, W. Va. The Lakers will play their first regular-season home game against Northwood University on Dec. 8 at 1:00 p.m.

Tickets are available online at lssulakers.com or in-person at the LSSU ticket office. For additional ticket information, call (906) 635-2602.

Be sure to follow Laker women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for program updates and behind the scenes action.