Lakers Struggle To Find Momentum Against Titans

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Roosevelt suffered an 84-68 setback in its return to Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference action Wednesday evening in South Bend, Ind. against Indiana University South Bend.

The Lakers (6-8, 4-5 CCAC) lost the battle on the interior against the Titans, surrendering a 42-16 disadvantage in points in the paint and a 42-29 disadvantage in rebounding. Roosevelt corralled just 17 of Indiana South Bend's 32 misses in the game, although the Lakers were able to score 20 points off 12 offensive rebounds of their own.

Amelia McNutt led the way with 16 points in the loss for the Lakers while South Bend native Meghan Urbanski scored 13, including shooting 4 of 7 from long range, in her return to her hometown. Kencia Levasseur rounded out the trio of Lakers in double figures with 12 points, and added a team-best four offensive rebounds as well. Chyna Scott paced Roosevelt with seven total rebounds and Lauren Gillion came off the bench to score nine points in 18 minutes, the most minutes she has played this season.

Roosevelt came out of the gates with good energy defensively as the game moved back and forth in the first quarter. However, the Lakers' offense ground to a halt with their struggles around the rim, allowing the Titans to push their advantage to 13 points at halftime. The Lakers made a few runs at Indiana South Bend in the third quarter to bring the deficit back to the single digits, but were unable to string together enough stops for yet another comeback victory.

Indiana South Bend made 10 of 13 shots in the third quarter to hold off Roosevelt's 46.7-percent shooting in the quarter. The Lakers finished the game shooting below 37 percent from the field after making 9 of 24 from 3-point range while the Titans shot just above 50 percent for the game. The shooting percentages, though, hid a sloppy game from both sides as the teams combined for 50 turnovers and 47 points off of those miscues.

Roosevelt's scheduled home game Saturday against Grace Christian has been postponed due to a later date. The Lakers will now have a week off before returning to action on Jan. 11 against Indiana University Northwest in Gary, Ind. at 5:30 p.m.