SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team will travel to Kenosha, Wisc. this weekend for a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) game against the Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers. The series will open on Saturday, Feb. 20 and will close on Sunday, Feb. 21. Both games, which are scheduled for 4:00 p.m. EST tip offs, will be played at the De Simone Gymnasium.

Due to COVID-19 related changes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) scheduling process for the 2021 season, teams will play a pair of games against the same opponent each weekend. 

The Lakers 

Through 14 games of the season, Lake Superior State has posted a 1-13 overall record in GLIAC play. Most recently, the Lakers played a road game against the Ferris State Bulldogs and fell by a final score of 54-47. 

With the majority of regular season games played, the Lakers have been led by the team's large incoming class as well as some key returners. Sophomore forward Mattison Rayman, who has started all 12 games she's played in this season, has averaged 12.9 points per game while also leading the team in rebounds per game with 7.5. Rayman enters the series against the Rangers in fourth place among all GLIAC players in rebounds per game and ranks 11th among her conference peers in points per game. Rayman, who averages 25.5 minutes on the floor each game, ranks second among her teammates with a 48.1 shooting percentage this season. On Tuesday at Ferris, Rayman posted a career-best 23 points in the game against the Bulldogs while also adding 19 rebounds (one shy of her career best). The sophomore forward earned her third double-double of the season and has recorded double-digit point totals in five consecutive games. 

Newcomers Makenzie Bray and Jaden Wilder have both made an impact on the floor in their first season with the Lakers. Bray, a transfer forward, is averaging 8.6 points per game and is coming off a 13 point game against Ferris State. The forward has recorded six double-digit point games this season.

Wilder, a freshman guard, has started the past nine games for the Lakers and played a season-high 40 minutes against the Davenport Panthers on Feb. 6. Wilder has registered double figures in points in four games this season, and ranks fourth on the team with a 38.9% shooting percentage. With a 87.5 free throw percentage, Wilder leads the Lakers in the category. 

As a team, the Laker offense is combining for 55.0 points per game this season on a 34.2 shooting percentage and a 24.6 percentage from three. Lake Superior has recorded an average of 32.1 rebounds per game this season. 

Scouting the Rangers

Wisconsin-Parkside will host the Lakers as the two teams will meet for their only series of the 2021 regular season. The Rangers are led by head coach Jen Conely, who is in her third season in the role at Parkside. Last season, the Rangers posted a 16-14 overall record (12-8 GLIAC) and was voted to finish in fourth in the standings in the GLIAC North Division Preseason Poll. 

In the last week, the Rangers dropped a pair of road games to Wayne State by scores of 69-60 and 82-77 but responded with a 72-69 win on the road against the Purdue Northwest Pride on Tuesday night. Through 14 games this season, Parkside has recorded a 7-7 overall record. 

The Rangers have been led by junior guard Alyssa Nelson, who averages 21.1 points per game to lead both her team as well as the GLIAC in the category. Nelson, who has started all 14 games this season, also leads the GLIAC with a 55.3 shooting percentage this season. The junior also averages 6.1 rebounds per game for Parkside and has recorded 42 assists this season for the Rangers. Nelson is the reigning GLIAC North Division Player of the Week after averaging 25.5 points per game against Wayne State last weekend and is coming off a 35 point game against Purdue Northwest. 

Including Nelson, the Rangers have four players averaging over 10 points per game. Junior Hannah Plockelman ranks second on the team with 11.4 points per game while also leading the team in rebounds per game (7.7). Claire Jakaitis (10.2 points per game) and Alexis Vaughn (10.1 points per game) round out the top scorers this season for the Rangers. 

As a team, the Rangers offense is combining for 74.1 points per game this season on a 44.5 shooting percentage and a 30.7 percentage from three. Parkside has recorded an average of 33.9 rebounds per game this season.

Follow the Lakers

Fans can purchase access to this weekend's series by clicking here. 

Due to State of Michigan, GLIAC and Lake Superior State University mandates, fans are not currently permitted to attend any Laker sporting events. Even though spectators cannot currently attend Laker home games, there are still a number of ways that fans will be able to follow the game action. All Laker home games during the 2021 season will be available to watch live on Stretch TV. For more information or to sign up for a subscription, visit https://portal.stretchinternet.com/lssu/. Fans can also tune in to the radio broadcast on ESPN 1400, the official radio station of Laker basketball.

For more information, visit lssulakers.com

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