TIFFIN, Ohio - Coming off the bench for the first time this season, freshman Valerie Meissner tied Mackenzie Edwards with 12 points to lead Lake Superior State women's basketball team in scoring during a 70-55 loss at Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference South Division foe Tiffin on Saturday.
Meissner, who had previously started the Lakers' (3-11, 2-6 GLIAC) last 13 games, hit on 4-of-8 shots from the field, including 3-for-4 from behind the three point line. Meissner also recorded three rebounds during 29 minutes of action.
Meissner's replacement in the starting five, senior April LaCross led the Lakers with nine rebounds and scored five points.
Megan Manninen played the entire 40 minutes for the Lakers and scored eight points while dishing out seven assists. Manninen also had a game-high four steals.
The Dragons (3-10, 1-7 GLIAC) used runs of 5-0 and 6-0 to pull away in the second quarter. Tiffin built a 9-point lead by halftime with help from Kaylee Patton's six points off the bench in the first half.
Despite remaining within striking distance during the third quarter, the Lakers eventually were unable to find the necessary stops on the defensive end during the second half. Tiffin still managed to pull away despite commiting 13 second half turnovers, while the Lakers were only guilty of four during the final 20 minutes.
In fact, the Dragons hit on 62.5 percent of their shots from the field (15-of-24) and from the three point arc (5-for-8) during the second half. The Lakers could only muster 33.3 percent shooting from the floor in the second half, but did connect on 5-of-8 three pointers.
Bre Nauman had game-highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Dragons. Nauman did her damage almost completely during the second half, scoring 16 points and grabbing eight rebounds during 16 minutes of work in the two quarters.
Guard Alison Schirmer scored 10-of-16 points for Tiffin during the second half.
LSSU will again be on the road next weekend. The Lakers travel to Saginaw Valley on Thursday at 6 p.m. before tipping off at 1 p.m. in Hillsdale on Saturday.