CANTON, Ohio - Lake Superior State women's basketball fell 80-78 in overtime to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent Malone on Thursday evening.

Tamara Novic led the Lakers (2-5, 1-2 GLIAC) in scoring with a career-high 24 points and also hauled in five rebounds. Novic hit 9-of-15 shots from the floor and also dished out three assists.

Freshman guard Valerie Meissner contributed a career-high 19 points, thanks to hitting 50 percent from three-point range (4-for-8) in the losing effort for the Lakers.

The Pioneers (3-4, 1-2 GLIAC) led 37-33 at halftime, but the Lakers managed to conjure up a single-point lead going into the final quarter.

A back-and-forth fourth quarter was played tight by both teams as the Lakers managed the largest lead of the quarter with a four-point margin. With five seconds remaining Mackenzie Edwards went to the free-throw line for a chance to extend the Lakers' 70-69 lead.

Edwards hit 1-of-2 from the line and left the door open for Rachel Goddard to hit the game-tying jump shot just before the end of regulation to force overtime. Goddard finished with 15 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds.

With the Lakers leading by one point in the overtime period, Goddard hit a layup to give the Pioneers a one-point lead.

Following a turnover and quick foul by the Lakers, Goddard gave the Pioneers the final score of 80-78 while hitting 1-of-2 free throws.

LSSU called a timeout following Goddard's made free throw on the back in order to advance the ball to half court, however a last ditch effort to tie the game fell short.

The Lakers shot 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the field, including 50 percent (8-16)  from behind the arc.

Chrissie Vaughn scored 25 points and Tara Schaffter hit 20 points to lead the way for Malone scorers.

On Saturday the Lakers will make the 5-mile trip north to face the Walsh Cavaliers.