PAINESVILLE, OHIO – Visiting Ferris State University led wire-to-wire in sending the Lake Erie College women's basketball team to a 72-61 defeat in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opener for both teams Thursday night (Nov. 29) at the Jerome T. Osborne Family Athletic & Wellness Center.

The Storm (2-2, 0-1 GLIAC) whittled what was a 24-point lead down to five with six-and-a-half minutes to play, but the Bulldogs (2-2, 1-0 GLIAC) were able to fend off the rally by pushing the lead back to double figures with just over a minute left. 

Lake Erie got off to a rough start, shooting under 20% during the first 15 minutes.  During that time the Storm fell behind 35-9. Lake Erie was just six-of-24 (25%) from the field in the first half.

Sarah DeShone scored 14 of her game-high 26 points in the first half as the Bulldogs connected on 57% in the opening period and doubled up the Storm, 42-21, in the first half.

Lake Erie was much better in the second half, with a hot start cutting the deficit to nine midway through the period.  The Storm was 13-of-34 from the field in the second half, hitting six threes in the comeback attempt. Overall, Lake Erie shot 32.8% (19-of-58) for the game.

Sophomore guard Jackie Murray (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/St. Vincent St. Mary) hit a career-high five three-pointers en route to a personal and team-best 15 points.  Senior Ashar Harris (Columbus, Ohio/Africentric/Morehead State) posted her fourth straight double-double, going for 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. 

Freshman Shelby Carpenter (Dayton, Ohio/Miami Valley) reached double figures for the third game in a row, scoring 11.  Redshirt junior Chloe Irish (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) had a big game off the bench for the Storm, getting a career-high nine points and six rebounds in 26 minutes.

Ashley Rando wasthe only other Bulldog in double figures, scoring 13 points.  As a team Ferris State shot 55.8% overall which helped offset 24 turnovers.

Lake Erie will look to bounce back when they wrap up their season-opening five-game homestand Saturday, Dec. 1, against GLIAC foe Grand Valley State University at 3 p.m.

-LEC-