KIRTLAND, Ohio – Lakeland women's basketball started fast and was able to hold on late to beat Owens Community College 63-55 Wednesday night.
Calasia Cunningham didn't have her best night shooting but still led Lakeland with 16 points to help the Lakers improve to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference. Owens fell to 5-5 overall and 2-1 in the OCCAC.
Starters Ziona Williams and Delesha Jackson each finished with 11 points while Alicia Sephus came off the bench to score 10 points and grab nine rebounds.
Lakeland couldn't have asked for a much better start as Cunningham scored eight points in the opening quarter and the Lakers grabbed a 23-8 lead after one. Lakeland cooled off in the second quarter and made just 2-of-18 from the field as Owens outscored Lakeland 11-8 but the Lakers still led 31-19 at the half.
Sephus came off the bench in the third quarter and scored five points and grabbed four rebounds to fuel Lakeland as both Lakeland and Owens scored 17 points as the Lakers clinged to a 48-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Owens made the game close in the final quarter as the Express got within 56-51 with 3:18 left. That would be as close as Owens would get as Williams scored four in the quarter to help Lakeland hold on to the 8-point victory.
Lakeland will next travel to face Jamestown Community College on Saturday, Dec. 8 at noon. Lakeland beat Jamestown 69-52 in Kirtland on Nov. 14.
For more information about Lakeland athletics, visit www.athletics.lakelandcc.edu.
About Lakeland Community College
Founded in 1967, Lakeland Community College was the first college in Ohio created by a vote of the people. True to our mission, Lakeland provides quality learning opportunities to meet the social and economic needs of the community.
Offering day, evening, weekend and online classes, the college serves more than 10,800 credit and 2,800 noncredit students (2016). For more information about the College, visit www.lakelandcc.edu.
