SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - Rochester Christian University used a decisive middle-quarter surge and a big edge in points off turnovers to defeat Lawrence Tech University 89-67 on Wednesday evening at Don Ridler Fieldhouse.

The Blue Devils trailed just 19-13 after the first quarter, but Rochester Christian broke the game open with a 28-point second quarter to build a 47-29 halftime lead, then followed with a 22-12 third-quarter advantage to push the margin to 69-41 after three. Lawrence Tech outscored RCU 26-20 in the fourth and finished strong offensively, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome.

Turnovers were the key difference. Lawrence Tech held a 34-26 advantage on the glass, including a 25-18 edge in defensive rebounds, but committed 29 turnovers against just eight for Rochester Christian. RCU converted those extra opportunities into efficient scoring, shooting 52.1% from the field (37-for-71) and 85.7% at the free-throw line (12-for-14). The Blue Devils shot 41.8% overall (23-for-55) and 78.9% at the line (15-for-19), but their 22-shot deficit from the field helped fuel Rochester Christian's sustained runs in the second and third quarters.

Kate Jacobs led Lawrence Tech with a standout all-around performance, matching the game high with 25 points on 9-for-15 shooting. She added nine rebounds, five assists and a block while going a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Jacobs opened the scoring with an early layup at 9:56 of the first quarter to give the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead and helped keep Lawrence Tech within striking distance through the opening 10 minutes.

Rochester Christian answered with defensive pressure and transition scoring that shifted the momentum. A fast-break layup by Samone Andrews in the final minute of the first quarter pushed RCU in front 19-13, and the visitors carried that momentum into the second. Three-point shooting keyed the separation, as Amal Younes drilled a 3-pointer early in the second quarter to make it 24-13, and Ashley Loon connected from deep later in the frame to extend the lead to 34-23. By halftime, the Blue Devils' early lead had turned into an 18-point deficit.

Rochester Christian continued to capitalize on turnovers after the break. Andrews started the third quarter with a fast-break layup just seconds into the period to make it 49-29, and RCU repeatedly turned steals and long rebounds into quick baskets. A three-point play sequence from Shahd Bakkar pushed the margin further, and a transition layup from Mylah Aalse made it 69-37 late in the third. Andrews opened the fourth quarter with another layup off a steal to extend the advantage to 71-41, and a 3-pointer from Loon moments later stretched it to 74-41.

Lawrence Tech responded with its best offensive stretch in the fourth quarter, putting up 26 points in the final 10 minutes to close the gap. The Blue Devils' late push forced Rochester Christian to finish the game at the rim, with Lucy Freytag scoring on a late layup to make it 87-67 before Jordan Peterson provided the final points of the night at 89-67 in the closing seconds.

While Rochester Christian was paced by Kendal Zeiter's 25 points on 11-for-17 shooting and a balanced supporting cast, the Blue Devils showed positives on the glass and at the free-throw line that provide a foundation moving forward. Limiting turnovers and sustaining the fourth-quarter offensive rhythm will be key focal points as Lawrence Tech looks to bounce back in its next outing at Don Ridler Fieldhouse.