Cullen Maksimowski, LSSULakers.com
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.—The Lake Superior State women's basketball team will face a tall task Thursday evening as it hosts No.1-ranked and defending National Champion Ashland to open Great Lake Intercollegiate Athletic Conference competition.
The Lakers (0-4), are coming off a pair of road losses last weekend in the Radisson Hotel MSP North Classic to Concordia St.Paul (83-73) and Augustana S.D (100-61).
"We saw some improvements in some of the things we are trying to do," said Lake Superior coach Brandon Lokken. "In that game against Concordia St. Paul, I thought we really competed, we fought back to within 10 at one point after being down 20-plus. Definitely some good to take away from that."
Lake Superior will see a 6-0 Eagles team that currently boasts the No.2 scoring offense in the country averaging 92.5 points per contest.
Ashland's offense also features the top two scorers in the conference in Laina Snyder and Jodi Johnson. Snyder is averaging 21.8 points per game and Johnson is posting 20.8.
"It's a cool opportunity for us to play the number one team in the nation," Lokken said. "They haven't lost in a long time after going undefeated last year being 6-0 this season.
"It's a cool challenge for being able to play them on our home floor. It's a unique experience that not everyone gets to have and we're looking forward to going out there and seeing how we stack up against them."
Lake State enters Thursday's contest averaging 63.3 points, 32.2 rebounds and are shooting 40 percent from the field and 27.4 percent from three-point range.
The Lakers starting five is led by senior forward Tamara Novic who leads the team in rebounding averaging 7.8 per game and is second in scoring at 10.8 points per game.
"It great to know that we can get it down and play inside-out with (Novic) in the lineup," said Lokken, "She gives us a lot of confidence as an interior scorer and someone that our girls really trust. She's a great leader, works really hard every day in practice and sets the tone for so many of these young freshman and sophomores."
Freshman guard Rebecca Villanueva is among those young players benefiting from the veteran leadership of Novic. Just four games into here collegiate career, Villanueva has carved out a role offensively averaging 10 points a game and 2.5 rebounds.
"(Villanueva) has been a great spark off the bench for us," said Lokken. "She's really coming in playing with a lot of confidence offensively and really finding her way to get some shots in our offense that fit her game. We're excited about what she's got going on so far and we hope it continues."
After Thursday's game, the Lakers will be back in action on Saturday as they host Tiffin in a GLIAC match up at 1 p.m. inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
Tickets may be purchased at the Norris Center Ticket Office or at lssulakers.com/tickets. Call 906-635-2502 for more information.