Levasseur Shines As Lakers Rally Past Jaguars

UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. – Kencia Levasseur scored six points in the final 2:30 of the game to help Roosevelt overcome an eight-point deficit and defeat Governors State 61-59 in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest Saturday in University Park.

The Lakers (3-6, 3-4 CCAC) trailed 56-48 with 2:25 left when Levasseur spun inside to deposit a layup, but her impact on the game was just getting started. Off an inbounds play with 27 seconds left, Levasseur shook free from her defender and was wide open for an easy layup to tie the game at 59. She then contested the Jaguars' shot and tied up the Jaguars' player going for the rebound to force a jump ball with six seconds left.

Off the ensuing inbounds play, Levasseur again contested the Governors State jump shot, but this time she cleanly grabbed her 10^th rebound of the night and raced the other way. In an attempt to poke the ball free, the Jaguars fouled the freshman with two seconds remaining. She calmy sank the two free throws to send Roosevelt to it second straight win. The Washington, Ind. native finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the week.

Although Levasseur was the hero late, Roosevelt put together a solid team effort once again to complete the perfect week. Amelia McNutt scored 11 of her team-best 19 points in the third quarter, singlehandedly keeping the Lakers in the game while Governors State tried to pull away. The Jaguars went on a 7-0 run after McNutt hit a pair of 3-pointers to tie the game, but she then scored the final five points of the quarter to bring the game within two entering the fourth quarter.

Freshman Taylor Treat came off the bench to dish out four assists, tying Levasseur for the team lead in that category Saturday. Jayla Turchin was limited by foul trouble to just seven points in 14 minutes, but she did hit a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter to help with the comeback effort. Meghan Urbanski was the only other Lakers player to finish in double figures with 10 points with several of her shots finding unfriendly rims as well.

One area where the Lakers definitely dominated was rebounding, holding a 44-31 edge on the glass against the Jaguars. In particular, Roosevelt swarmed after offensive rebounds, collecting 21 for 18 second-chance points. Levasseur claimed seven of her 10 boards on the offensive end and Chyna Scott added four of her seven rebounds on offense as well. Roosevelt is now 2-0 when it outrebounds its opponents this season.

The Lakers have a chance to win three in a row for the first time in nearly four years on Wednesday when they head to Lawrence Tech in Southfield, Michigan for a 6 p.m. non-conference tipoff.