PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Lake Erie women's basketball team hosted the D'Youville University Saints tonight in another non-conference matchup. The Storm fought valiantly towards the end but fell just short of a comeback, losing 61-60. The loss takes the their record to 1-2 on the early season.

Game Recap
Both sides came out looking sluggish and struggled to score. The two sides combined for just 28 points in the quarter and while the Saints went 0-for-7 from deep, the Storm shot just 18.75% from the field but managed to knock down two buckets from deep.

Things started to pickup in the second quarter but both sides remained evenly matched with neither separating themselves too much. With that being said, D'Youville outscored the Storm by three and took an 11-point lead into the half. 

Second half adjustments seemed to work well for the Storm and they clawed their way back to a 49-42 score. With time expiring in the third, the Saints knocked down one final three to bring their lead back to double digits, 52-42.

They built off that momentum early and brought their lead out to 58-42, but that is when the tide shifted in the game.

Lake Erie trimmed the deficit back down to single digits with 3:52 left, and after trading baskets, Kennadi Harris knocked down a huge three to bring them within five. On their next possession, Anna Ibos came up with a big block. The Storm would then turn it over, but Riley Montagner was right there to block the Saints next shot. Nina Shaffer  brought them within three on a tip-in layup but the Saints responded with a layup of their own. After a missed three-pointer for the Storm and a turnover from the Saints, Harris knocked down, yet again, another huge three now bringing Lake Erie within striking distance. D'Youville missed their next shot with 20 seconds left and Montagner grabbed the rebound with a Storm timeout following. On their next possession, the Saints committed a huge foul on Lilee Carlson with a chance to tie the game. Carlson missed her first attempt but nailed the second, leaving three seconds left and not enough time for the Storm to complete the comeback.

Carlson finished with a fantastic statline, totaling 22 points and eight rebounds while adding six steals. The Lake Erie defense's strong second half propelled them to 13 steals in the game in addition to two blocks. Their perimeter defense was undoubtedly was the X-factor as they managed to hold the Saints to just one three pointer in the game which resulted in a percentage of 6.3 percent (1-for-16).

Looking Ahead
The Storm will be back in action Saturday, November 23rd on the road against the Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.