Lakers Take Cougars To Wire In Crosstown Rivalry

CHICAGO – Five Roosevelt players finished in double figures scoring, but it was not enough as the Lakers fell 69-67 to Saint Xavier in a crosstown rivalry matchup in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon at the Shannon Center.

The Lakers (5-9, 3-3 CCAC) battled back on several occasions to make things interesting against the Cougars. Roosevelt trailed by as many as nine in the second quarter, but was able to cut that deficit to five by halftime then take its first lead just three minutes into the second half. The deficit ballooned again to 11 with 4:11 in the game, but the Lakers responded with an 11-2 run that made it a two-point game with a minute left.

Jayla Turchin led the way for the Lakers with 15 points and seven rebounds while also dishing out five assists in the setback. Kencia Levasseur added 14 points while the trio of Jalyssa Carrasco, Kristen Keys and Malou Savanna each contributed 10 points. Carrasco also added seven assists and seven rebounds while committing just one turnover in 40 minutes of action.

Roosevelt had one of its best games of the season in terms of protecting the ball, committing just 14 turnovers in the game. The Lakers also scored 22 points off 18 takeaways and scored 12 second-chance points on 13 offensive rebounds in the loss.

The Lakers will turn around Wednesday and start a two-game homestand with a 5 p.m. tipoff against St. Ambrose at the Goodman Center.