Rough Start Sinks Lakers Against Saints

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Roosevelt surrendered the first 11 points of the game and never recovered, falling 93-58 to Holy Cross on Wednesday night in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup in Notre Dame, Ind.

The Lakers (7-12, 5-9 CCAC) didn't score in the first five minutes of the game before Jayla Turchin ended the drought with a jump shot. Roosevelt missed its first six shots and committed four turnovers before getting on the scoreboard, and made just 4 of 15 from the floor in the first quarter. The Saints grabbed 14 of the 16 available rebounds in the opening 10 minutes to secure a 14-point lead after the first quarter.

As to be expected from a gritty team, the Lakers did make a run to cut the lead to seven midway through the second quarter. They shot 39 percent from the field and kept Holy Cross under 50 percent from the floor in the second quarter. However, Roosevelt still allowed five offensive rebounds and the deficit grew to 17 by halftime.

The second quarter proved to be Roosevelt's best offensive quarter and the Lakers finished shooting 31 percent from the field and just 5 of 17 from long range. They did put up a better fight on the glass, limiting the Saints to just four offensive rebounds in the second half, but Holy Cross still scored 14 second-chance points in the win. The Saints were equally dominant on the interior with a 56-24 advantage in points in the paint Wednesday.

Four of Roosevelt's five starters finished in double figures, led by 15 from Amelia McNutt, who converted all six of her free throws. Erionna Moore finished with a career-best 13 points, just the third time in 67 career appearances for the Lakers that the senior has scored in double figures. Meghan Urbanski finished with 11 points in a return to her hometown while Turchin chipped in 10. Lauren Gillion and McNutt shared the team lead with six rebounds and Taylor Treat dished out a team-best three assists.

Roosevelt is back in action Saturday in a critical CCAC showdown with Trinity Christian at 1 p.m. at the Goodman Center. The Lakers and Trolls enter their only regular-season meeting tied for the final spot in the conference tournament next month.