Keys Leads Lakers To CCAC Road Rout

JOLIET, Ill. – Roosevelt roared to life in the second quarter to cruise past St. Francis (Ill.) 88-63 for a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon in Joliet.

The Lakers (14-10, 12-4 CCAC) trailed by eight points after the first quarter, but they went on a 14-0 run early in the second to take an eight-point lead into halftime. The duo of Grace Beyer and Kristen Keys sparked Roosevelt in the second quarter with 20 of the team's 28 points in that 10-minute stretch. Keys started the consequential spurt with a pair of free throws then added a jumper and a layup sandwiched around a 3-pointer from Beyer.

Keys finished the day with 26 points on 11 of 16 shooting, making 11 of 14 in the first three quarters. Beyer came off the bench to add the necessary spark with three of her four 3-pointers coming in the second quarter. The junior transfer finished with 14 points as the second of five Lakers who ended the contest in double figures. Kencia Levasseur, Alexia Lohman and Jayla Turchin all had strong fourth quarters to eclipse the 10-point barrier.

Turchin scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half and made a concerted effort on the boards with eight rebounds to lead the team. Jalyssa Carrasco continued her strong play at point guard with six assists as Roosevelt dished out 20 on 36 made baskets. Levasseur had six of her 13 points in the fourth quarter and Lohman had eight of her 10 in the final 10 minutes as the Lakers extended the lead to as many as 27 points in the fourth.

Roosevelt was a force on defense in the game, forcing 22 turnovers and converting those miscues into 27 points. The Lakers also held the Fighting Saints to just 3 of 19 from behind the arc and St. Francis only had six assists in the game. Meanwhile, the offense hummed right along over the final 30 minutes, shooting an impressive 62.5 percent in the last three quarters to surge past the hosts.

The Lakers return to action Wednesday night in Davenport, Iowa when they face St. Ambrose at 5:30 p.m. in another CCAC clash.