SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — Parkside women's basketball closed Saturday's road contest with authority, scoring 27 points in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 62-52 win over Lake Superior State at the James Norris Center.
The Rangers won their third straight game to improve to 11-9 overall and even their GLIAC record at 6-6, while the Lakers dropped to 5-15 overall and 2-10 in conference play. Parkside also extended its dominance in the series, winning its 17th straight game against Lake Superior State and completing another season sweep.
Offense was hard to come by early for Parkside, which endured its toughest shooting day of the season. The Rangers finished just 18-of-63 from the field (29%), marking the first time this year they shot under 30 percent. Despite the struggles, Parkside stayed within striking distance by defending, rebounding and consistently getting to the free-throw line.
Lake Superior State controlled much of the first half, taking an 11-6 lead after a low-scoring opening quarter. Parkside responded in the second, outscoring the Lakers 18-10 to take a 24-21 advantage into halftime, with Cassidy Arni and Lillie Petersen helping stabilize the offense.
The Lakers surged back in front in the third quarter, shooting efficiently and outscoring Parkside 19-11 to reclaim a 40-35 lead heading into the final period. With the Rangers still searching for consistency from the field, the game appeared to be slipping away.
Instead, Parkside delivered its most complete quarter of the afternoon when it mattered most. The Rangers poured in 27 points over the final 10 minutes while holding Lake Superior State to just 12, flipping the game with poise at the free-throw line and timely defensive stops. Parkside went 12-of-13 at the stripe in the fourth quarter alone, finishing the game 17-of-19 (90%) from the line, compared to 7-of-9 for the Lakers.
Arni led the Rangers for the second straight game with 16 points, while Petersen recorded her third double-double of the season with 13 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Peighton Nelson added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Katie Hamill chipped in 10 points and nine boards, giving Parkside four players in double figures.
Lake Superior State was led by Grace Bradford's 16 points and game-high 14 rebounds, with Dara Capaldi also scoring 16. The Lakers shot 35 percent from the floor but could not counter Parkside's late-game execution.
Despite being outscored in the paint and shooting a season-low percentage from the field, Parkside's discipline at the free-throw line and decisive fourth-quarter run proved to be the difference, turning a five-point deficit into a double-digit road win.
The Rangers will look to continue their momentum Thursday, Feb. 5, when they travel to Chicago to take on Roosevelt at the Goodman Center at 5 p.m. CT.
To keep up with the Rangers, be sure to visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
