Cougars Snap Roosevelt Win Streak

CHICAGO – Roosevelt's eight-game win streak came to an end Wednesday night at the Goodman Center as Saint Xavier defeated the Lakers 70-52 in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference action.

The Lakers (13-10, 11-4 CCAC) were led by Jayla Turchin, who scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the setback. The junior was a key instigator throughout the evening, finding ways to score when Roosevelt needed it the most. She scored 16 of her points in the second half to try and spark a comeback, notably sinking back-to-back 3s in the fourth quarter in an attempt to revie yet another rally.

Marie Outlay added 13 points and seven boards herself, providing a spark on defense with deflections and strong on-ball defending. She also picked up a steal in the second half to move into a tie for second in single-season assists with her 69^th theft of the year. Jalyssa Carrasco continued to be a versatile contributor with eight assists and six rebounds while Kristen Keys led Roosevelt with eight rebounds.

Roosevelt actually led the game in total rebounds, 42-34, and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds, turning those into 11 second-chance points. The Lakers also scored 18 points off Saint Xavier's 15 turnovers while committing just 12 turnovers themselves.  

Much of the difference in the game came in the first quarter after the Lakers fell behind 22-8. Over the final three quarters, Roosevelt played Saint Xavier to almost a tie, several times creating some momentum for itself by connecting stops with baskets. However, the Lakers never cracked the elusive single digits after the first quarter.

The Lakers will try to start a new winning streak Saturday afternoon in Joliet when they face St. Francis in a 1 p.m. matinee.