PAINESVILLE, Ohio- The Lake Erie College women's basketball team used a late fourth quarter run to pull close to the #21 Grand Valley State Lakers but the Storm was unable to pull the upset. The Storm fell to the Lakers 50-45.

The Storm dropped to 5-9 overall and 3-5 in the GLIAC with the loss.

Grand Valley State opened the game with a 9-0 run off of two three pointers. Farrah Benner (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) and Victoria Burdo (Waterville, Ohio / Anthony Wayne) answered with back-to-back baskets to cut the lead to five. Following a Grand Valley State three point play, Benner knocked down a three pointer with 49 seconds left. The Lakers led 14-7 after the first quarter.

The Lakers began the second quarter with five straight points as the lead grew to 12. Lake Erie got baskets from Josie Chaddock (Minerva, Ohio / Minerva) and Kayla Gabor (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) to pull close within eight points with four minutes remaining in the half. Over the next three minutes, Grand Valley State fought back with a 9-2 run. Lake Erie trailed 31-17 at the half.

Benner led the Storm with five points in the first half.

Chaddock hit the first two jumpers for the Storm in the second half. The Lakers responded with a 9-3 run, that pushed the lead to 18 points at 42-24. Lake Erie ended the third with some momentum as they went on a 9-1 run. Gabor scored four points as the Storm trailed 43-33 after three quarters. 

Both teams exchanged baskets at the start of the fourth quarter. Grand Valley made a layup at the 7:23 mark, opening the lead to 12. Over the next six minutes, Lake Erie made a late charge as they cut into the lead. Daija Jones (Cleveland, Ohio / St. Joseph Academy) opened a 10-0 run for the Storm with a layup. Chaddock scored the final four points of the run as Lake Erie was within two with 1:40 to go. Grand Valley State answered with a three that put the game out of reach. 

The Storm held the Lakers to 50 points and 31% shooting in the game. Lake Erie shot 36% from the floor themselves. 

Chaddock led the Storm with 15 points, on seven-of-13 shooting. Christine Dawson (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) added nine points and a team-high ten rebounds. 

Lake Erie will open a two-game roadtrip next Thursday (Jan. 12) as they face Tiffin on the road.

-LEC-