Lakers Set Program Record In Rout of Crimson Wave

CHICAGO – Roosevelt set a program record Saturday afternoon with a 93-44 victory over Calumet St. Joseph at the Goodman Center, the largest Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory for the Lakers.

Amelia McNutt paced four Lakers in double figures with a season-best 23 points to help Roosevelt (7-11, 5-8 CCAC) win its first game of 2023. Meghan Urbanski scored 11 of her 16 points in the first quarter to help the Lakers play their way into the game. Jayla Turchin added 13 points and Gabby Beggs chipped in 10 off the bench as well for Roosevelt.

However, one player who didn't finish in double figures scoring actually flirted with a triple-double of her own. Erionna Moore scored nine points, dished out 10 assists and grabbed seven rebounds, quietly doing the little things for the Lakers at both ends of the floor. The senior became the first Roosevelt player since MicQuasha Riddle against Wilberforce on Nov. 26, 2019 to reach 10 assists in the game.

The Lakers didn't actually lead until 3:32 left in the first quarter after a sluggish opening five minutes that led to sloppy plays at both ends of the floor. Urbanski scored five of the first six points for Roosevelt in the game before adding two more 3-pointers as part of the game-breaking 19-2 run in the final 5:13 of the first quarter that gave the Lakers the lead for good. Urbanski finished the quarter shooting 4 of 6 from the floor and 3 of 4 from long range.

Roosevelt was able to push out its advantage to 20 by halftime, but the second half was as dominant as the Lakers have been all season long. The Lakers held the Crimson Wave to just 27.6 percent shooting and 18 total points over the final 20 minutes while Roosevelt shot 52.6 percent from the field in the second half. McNutt led the offensive charge in the second half with 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting and also added five rebounds in that span.

The key to the turnaround for the Lakers came on defense where they forced Calumet St. Joseph into 25 turnovers, and turned those miscues into 33 points. Roosevelt was active in the passing lanes with Chyna Scott leading the team with four steals among the 12 credited to the Lakers. Beggs finished with three steals and Taylor Treat finished with two thefts.

The Lakers return to the court Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. as they search for the season sweep against Holy Cross in Notre Dame, Ind.

NOTES:

• The Lakers finished with 31 assists as a team, the first time they hit 30 assists since Nov. 7, 2018 against Silver Lake, and most since Jan. 5, 2016 against Robert Morris.
• Amelia McNutt has 600 total points in her Roosevelt career and has scored at least 14 points in eight of her last nine games.