SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Despite a dominant night at the free-throw line from LaChelle Moreland-Jones, Blue Devils women's basketball came up short in a WHAC conference matchup, falling 88-80 to the University of Northwestern Ohio on Saturday evening at Don Ridler Fieldhouse. A late three-pointer from the Racers' Lee Lawson and closing-seconds free throws by Brooke Asher provided the final separation in an otherwise tightly contested game.
Lawrence Tech trailed by as many as eight in the opening quarter as Northwestern Ohio jumped out to an 11-3 lead behind early transition scoring and hot perimeter shooting, including a fast-break 3-pointer from Asher. The Blue Devils steadied late in the frame, with Moreland-Jones scoring on a drive in the final minute to trim the deficit to 18-12 after 10 minutes.
The Blue Devils' offense found its rhythm in the second quarter, piling up 26 points and repeatedly attacking the paint. Lawrence Tech used its pressure defense and improved ball movement to erase the early hole, eventually pulling even before a late three from Northwestern Ohio's Liv Thompson sent the visitors into halftime with a narrow 40-38 edge. Lawrence Tech matched the Racers on the glass in the first half and leveraged trips to the stripe to stay within one possession in a back-and-forth stretch.
Out of the break, Lawrence Tech again clawed back, as Moreland-Jones finished a fast-break layup to knot the score at 40-40 early in the third quarter. From there, however, Northwestern Ohio's balance began to tell. The Racers strung together a crucial run late in the third, sparked by efficient inside play from Lawson and timely outside shooting. Asher drilled a three with eight seconds left in the quarter to push the margin to 66-60 heading to the fourth, turning what had been a one-possession contest into a two-possession uphill climb.
The Blue Devils continued to battle in the final quarter, but Northwestern Ohio consistently had an answer. A layup from Lori Huffman made it 68-60 early in the period, and although Lawrence Tech generated stops and continued to get to the free-throw line, the Racers' three-level scoring kept the hosts from mounting a full comeback. Lawson's three-pointer with 2:37 remaining extended the lead to 82-74, effectively serving as the decisive blow. Lawrence Tech remained aggressive to the horn, but Asher's free throws with 11 seconds left sealed the 88-80 final.
Moreland-Jones led Lawrence Tech with a game-high 26 points, attacking downhill throughout the night and converting 14 of 16 attempts at the foul line. She added six rebounds, four steals and an assist in a strong two-way performance. Forward Kate Jacobs provided a key interior presence with 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, while matching Moreland-Jones with six rebounds and registering four blocks to anchor the Blue Devils' rim protection.
As a team, Lawrence Tech shot 41.7 percent from the field (25-for-60) and 33.3 percent from 3-point range (10-for-30), while turning in an efficient 87 percent at the free-throw line (20-for-23). The Blue Devils finished with 28 total rebounds and 17 assists, matching Northwestern Ohio in turnovers with 14 and forcing six steals, but were ultimately undone by the Racers' 50 percent 3-point shooting and balanced offensive attack. Northwestern Ohio closed at 47.5 percent from the floor and 11-for-22 from deep to maintain control down the stretch.
The Blue Devils will look to build on the offensive performances from Moreland-Jones and Jacobs as WHAC play continues, using Saturday's effort as a benchmark for competing with one of the league's more efficient perimeter offenses. Lawrence Tech returns to conference action seeking to translate its aggressive, attacking style into a complete 40-minute effort in the games ahead.
