PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Lake Erie women's basketball team hosted the #21 Malone Pioneers this afternoon after notching their first G-MAC win on Thursday against Ursuline. The Storm kept pace with the Pioneers in the first half but a slow third quarter handed them a 72-51 loss. 

Game Recap

With a ranked opponent coming into their house, the Storm were on top of their game early. They jumped out to a 5-0 lead before the Pioneers battled back to take an 8-5 lead. Lake Erie tied the game at 11-11 after a basket from Sydney Shocklee and took the lead on a Sophie Chipps basket. The quarter ended with a slight 16-13 advantage for the Pioneers, but the Storm were prepared to continue battling.

The Storm came out firing in the second, scoring five straight to take an 18-16 lead and opening the second quarter much like the first. They held the lead for the next 3:17, and despite not a getting it back later, the Storm went into the locker room down just 32-26.

Coming out for the second half, the Storm struggled on both ends of the floor. They shot just 27.3 percent and surrendered 22 points to the Pioneers, extending the deficit heading into the final quarter.

Lake Erie kept pace with Malone in the fourth but ultimately fell 72-51 to the #21 Pioneers.

Nina Shaffer led the Storm with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including two three-pointers. Grace Lyon and Megan Mares anchored the defensive effort, combining for 15 combined rebounds, 14 of which came on the defensive end.

As a team, the Storm shot 42 percent from the field but connected on just 23.5% from beyond the arc.

Looking Ahead

Lake Erie will conclude 2025 with back-to-back non-conference games and host Roberts Wesleyan on Thursday, December 18th at 2 p.m. before hitting the road against the D'Youville Saints s on Sunday, December 21st at 2 p.m.