SAULT STE. MARIE – Valerie Meissner and Rachel Novotny reached season scoring highs while propelling the Lake Superior State women's basketball team to a 72-59 victory over Tiffin Saturday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

With the win, the 2-6 Lakers evened their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record at 1-1.

Meissner finished with 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals to lead all scorers. The sophomore guard, who was 4-of-7 from behind the arc, averaged 19 points per game during the Lakers' opening week of GLIAC competition.

Novotny, a sophomore center, was 8-of-13 from the field to finish with a season-high 17 points. She also contributed seven rebounds. Senior Mackenzie Edwards added 15 points, five rebounds and three steals. She extended her streak of double figure scoring performances to eight games.

LSSU trimmed a nine-point deficit to three points by the end of the first quarter, then made 8-of-16 second-quarter shots to lead 27-26 at halftime. The Lakers also shot 50 percent from the field (6-of-12) during the fourth quarter to extend a slim two-point lead to double figures. A 10-2 LSSU run included two layups by Novotny, and a three-pointer and three free throws by Edwards. It gave the Lakers a 63-52 lead with 3:47 remaining in the game.

Allie Miller totaled 19 points and five rebounds to lead Tiffin (2-4 overall, 0-2 GLIAC). Bre Nauman, Deidre McKay and Ali Schirmer added 10 points each. The Dragons shot 38.5 percent from the field for the game, including 7-of-22 from three-point range, and made 12-of-12 free throws.

LSSU shot 45.5 percent from the field for the game, including 7-of-19 from behind the arc, and made 15-of-17 free throws. The Lakers out-rebounded Tiffin, 38-24.

Lake Superior State plays host to Lake Erie on Dec. 15. The Dec. 6 home game against Algoma has been postponed to Dec. 18.