SAINT LEO, Fla. - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team dropped a nonconference game to the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen by a final score of 78-63 in the final game of Saint Leo's Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel Classic on Sunday, Dec. 19 at the Marion Bowman Athletic Center in Saint Leo, Fla. With the loss, the Lakers overall record sits at 2-8.
The Lakers tied the game at two when Margot Woughter made a layup in the first minute of the game to put LSSU on the board. Southern New Hampshire went on a seven point run to take a 9-2 lead over the Lakers but four points by Mattison Rayman in the next minute would pull the Lakers within four points of the Penmen (10-6).
Makenzie Bray brought the Lakers within two points (10-8) when she scored on a jump shot with 4:47 left in the first quarter but the Penmen closed out the first ten minutes strong to hold a 17-10 lead over the Lakers.
In the second quarter, the Lakers trailed by eight points (22-14) early but would respond by scoring six of the next eight points in the game. With 4:38 left in the first half, the Lakers were down by four points (24-20).
After the Penmen back a pair of field goals to open the second half of play, Rayman answered with a three point jump shot (35-26) to bring the Lakers back within single digits. Rayman scored the next five points for the Lakers in the game as she scored on three straight free throw attempts and followed with a layup. In that stretch, the Penmen built a solid lead over the Lakers as SNHU led 50-31 with 3:55 left in the quarter.
Before the quarter ended, Rayman scored two more free throws and added a layup for the Lakers. LSSU trailed 55-39 at the close of the third quarter.
In the final ten minutes of play, the Lakers outscored the Penmen, 24-23 but were unable to overcome the lead their opponent built earlier in the contest. Woughter made two free throws and added two field goals to bring the Lakers within 13 points of Southern New Hampshire (58-45) with 7:33 remaining in regulation.
Ella Bontrager made two free throws and Rayman followed with two free throws as the Lakers pulled within nine points of tying the game (58-49). However, the Penmen would not let the Lakers come any closer to evening the score and with just under five minutes left on the clock, SNHU led 66-51.
In the closing minutes of the game, the Lakers tried to rally but the Penmen held onto the lead to take the game by a final score of 78-63.
Breaking Down the Game: Rayman had a career game in the matchup as she scored a career-high 28 points in the loss. The junior forward went 6-for-8 in the game from the field and an impressive 15-for-18 from the free throw line. In addition to the 28 points, Rayman added 15 rebounds to post her second double-double of the weekend. Woughter ranked second on the team in points with 19 as she went 8-for-18 in the game while also adding six rebounds and two assists.
The Lakers finished the game with a 33.9 shooting percentage, going 21-for-62 in the game. On the other end of the floor, the Penmen went 27-for-68 in the game to total a 39.7 shooting percentage. Southern New Hampshire outrebounded Lake State, 48-37, in the game.
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