Lakers Fall To Lancers Despite Strong Defense

WINONA LAKE, Ind. – A stout defensive effort was not enough for Roosevelt in a 57-48 loss to Grace College on Tuesday night in Winona Lake, Ind.

The Lakers (0-2) held the Lancers to just 35.8 percent shooting, including 3 of 20 from behind the arc, in the game. Roosevelt's defense was particularly improved in the second half when it held Grace below 29 percent shooting and just 25 total points in the final 20 minutes.

After surrendering the first six points in the game, Roosevelt never led, but it did claw back on several occasions to test the Lancers, who received votes in the preseason coaches poll. The Lakers fell behind 12-5 with four minutes left in the first quarter before pulling themselves back to within three at the end of the frame. Kristen Keys made a layup at the end of the first half to bring the deficit to 10 points at halftime

Roosevelt came out of the intermission and scored the first nine points of the second half while holding Grace without a field goal for nearly five minutes. During that stretch, Jalyssa Carrasco made a 3-pointer to tie the game at 34, the first of two times the Lakers and Lancers were tied in the second half. The teams were deadlocked again at 42 with six minutes left in regulation before Grace edged ahead for the victory.

Carrasco led the way for the Lakers with 10 points while Keys scored nine and Alexia Lohman came off the bench to chip in eight. Jayla Turchin grabbed 11 rebounds to help Roosevelt claim a 43-39 edge on the boards and also led the team with five steals in the game.

The Lakers will trek back to Indiana this weekend for a two-game tournament at Indiana Wesleyan. Roosevelt will face the host Wildcats on Friday at 5 p.m. before facing Rochester on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Marion, Ind.