SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Lake Superior State (LSSU) women’s basketball team (4-6, 1-1 GLIAC) stayed unbeaten inside the friendly confines of Bud Cooper Gymnasium with a thrilling 82-79 victory over the Upper Iowa Peacocks (5-4) behind a 27-point, 10-rebound performance from Grace Bradford (Maple City, Mich.) on Saturday.
The Lakers jumped out to an early 6-0 lead with a coast-to-coast basket in transition by CeCe Hacker (Omaha, Neb.), but the Peacocks fought back to tie up the score. Upper Iowa was then able to pull ahead with a 13-0 run, but a three from Taylor Clarey (Rochester, Minn.) halted their momentum and kept the LSSU within ten after the opening frame.
Bradford began to assert herself early in the second quarter with the Lakers’ first eight points of the frame before another jumper from Clarey had LSSU back within three. The Peacocks managed to push back ahead, but the Lakers answered with a 9-0 run, taking the lead with a three from Taylor Stacy (Toledo, Ohio). Upper Iowa was able to retake a slim advantage going into the half with a 35-33 lead, but LSSU was feeling all of the momentum going into the break.
Bradford found Clarey inside to quickly tie up the score to start the second half, and Hacker hit a three to put her team back in front. Both teams would then trade blows, but back-to-back Peacock threes sent the lead back in favor of the visitors. However, both teams kept fighting with a three from Bradford knotting up the score at 50-50, and both teams battled throughout the remainder of the quarter with Upper Iowa managing to take a 61-56 edge into the fourth quarter.
Hacker opened up the final frame with a three to draw within two, but the Peacocks answered with a pair of baskets inside. The Lakers would then start to heat up from distance with back-to-back threes from Breah Golden (Arcadia, Wis.) and Hacker to retake the lead. LSSU would then nurse their advantage at the free throw line before another three from Stacy had her team up by five with less than three minutes to play. Upper Iowa was able to tie up the score at 79-79 with 38 seconds to play, but Bradford got to work in the post, putting the Lakers ahead with eight seconds on the clock to deliver LSSU its third win in a row.
Bradford led the Lakers in scoring with 27 points while also securing 10 rebounds for yet another double-double. Meanwhile, Clarey (11), Hacker (11), Golden (11), and Stacy (10) also finished the day with double-digit scoring.
The Lakers will now turn their attention to the new year, returning to action on Jan. 2, 2025 when they resume GLIAC play against Wayne State with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
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