Lakers Fall To Mighty Oaks Despite Strong Debuts

OAKLAND CITY, Ind. – Despite impressive debuts from Roosevelt's two transfers, the Lakers fell 109-85 in their season opener Thursday against Oakland City in a non-conference game in Oakland City, Ind.

In their first games in green and white, Jayla Turchin and Meghan Urbanski both eclipsed 20 points to lead the Lakers (0-1). Turchin, a transfer from Lewis University, scored a team-high 26 points and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds in the loss for Roosevelt. Urbanski, who arrived from Rockhurst University, added 21 points and four steals for the Lakers.

Freshman guard Taylor Treat came off the bench in her first collegiate game to score 16 points. She made an instant impact by connecting on her first two 3-pointers while adding two steals and an assist in the first quarter. She finished with four assists and three steals as well in her college debut and made six of her eight free-throw attempts. Treat's first college helper went to Amelia McNutt, who scored eight of her 11 points in the first quarter before battling foul trouble in the second half. McNutt also added three assists and three rebounds.

The first quarter was electric for Roosevelt, which came out with plenty of energy in the opening 10 minutes of the game. The Lakers shot 10 of 15 from the floor and made six of their eight 3-point attempts in the first quarter to build a lead that stretched to as many as seven points over the hosts. However, a few costly turnovers at the end of the first quarter allowed Oakland City to nip a 29-26 edge at the end of the stanza.

Roosevelt made just five 3-pointers the rest of the way and were unable to match the strong shooting percentage. The Lakers shot 42.6 percent from the floor over the final three quarters, but the Mighty Oaks were able to keep extending their lead in the second and third quarters with long runs. After Roosevelt took a 33-32 lead early in the second quarter, Oakland City responded with a 21-5 run over the next five minutes to steal the momentum. It then started the second half on a 15-3 run to increase the Lakers' deficit.

Turnovers were part of the story for both teams and both teams were able to punish the other for their mistakes. Roosevelt's 24 turnovers led to 26 points for Oakland City, but the Lakers also scored 24 points by forcing 26 turnovers from the Mighty Oaks. In addition to shooting 48 percent from the field in the game, the Lakers shot 38 percent from behind the arc.

Roosevelt returns to action Saturday in an exhibition game against NCAA Division I Evansville at 1 p.m. in Evansville, Ind.