SAULT STE. MARIE - In their first action since Nov. 22, the Lake Superior State women's basketball team fell to Findlay 75-59 in their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener on Dec. 3.

Only trailing 40-37 at the half, the Lakers (1-4, 0-1 GLIAC) gave way to a big third quarter as the Oilers (4-1, 1-0 GLIAC) took an 11-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Oilers held the lead through the final frame to come away with the 16 point victory.

Kelsey Lewis paced both teams with 21 points in the winning effort. Lewis also hauled in seven rebounds to lead an Oilers squad that out-rebounded the Lakers 34-19.

Mackenzie Edwards led Lakers scorers with 16 points, shooting 4-for-8 from behind the three-point arc.

The Oilers shot 50 percent (29-of-58) from the field, including a 57.1 percent (4-for-7) effort from behind the arc, while the Lakers shot a respectable 48.8 percent (21-for-43) from the floor and 47.8 percent (11-for-23) from three.

Megan Manninen, Rachel Novotny, and Natalie Peterson each chipped in 10 points each.

Novotny also tied for the team high in rebounds and assists with five each, as well as producing a team-high three blocks.

Haley Horstman (14 points) and Karli Bonar (11 points) both reached double digits for the Oilers.

The Lakers cap the opening weekend of GLIAC play with a 1 p.m. tip-off against Wayne State on Saturday.