HOWELL, Mich. - A cold stretch in the fourth quarter proved costly for Lawrence Tech, as the Blue Devils were outscored 20-8 over the final 10 minutes in a 77-63 loss to Cleary (Mich.) on Saturday afternoon at Gannon Gymnasium in Lansing, Mich.

Lawrence Tech trailed 39-33 at the half but battled back to grab momentum in the third quarter. The Blue Devils briefly went in front 55-54 when LaChelle Moreland-jones drilled a 3-pointer with 54 seconds left in the period. Cleary answered immediately, however, with a 3-pointer from Jess Andrew to reclaim a 57-55 lead heading into the fourth, setting the stage for the decisive final quarter.

Early in the fourth, Lawrence Tech continued to fight, pulling even at 57-57 on a layup by Kate Jacobs with 8:44 remaining. From there, Cleary took control behind timely shooting and dominance on the glass. A 3-pointer by Evalyn Cole with 6:27 to play pushed Cleary's advantage to 63-57 and sparked the game-changing run, as the Blue Devils struggled to generate consistent offense down the stretch.

Lawrence Tech's defense had stretches of strong play, particularly during the second and third quarters when the Blue Devils slowed Cleary's attack and turned stops into points. After falling behind 27-19 following a first-quarter buzzer-beater by Cole, Lawrence Tech responded with a 20-point second quarter. A fast-break 3-pointer from Bailie Stephens cut the deficit to 35-32, and a late jumper by Sydney Garon helped the Blue Devils trim the margin to six at intermission.

Moreland-Jones led Lawrence Tech with 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists, providing steady scoring and a key perimeter threat. Jacobs delivered an all-around performance with 10 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals, anchoring the Blue Devils' interior defense and contributing to eight team steals and three blocks. Liv Linden added 11 points, three rebounds and two assists as Lawrence Tech finished with 63 points on 39.3% shooting, including 8-for-24 from 3-point range.

Cleary's size and activity on the boards were a major factor. The Cougars posted a 48-32 rebounding advantage, fueled by 19 offensive rebounds that led to multiple second-chance opportunities. Cleary also finished with 18 assists to Lawrence Tech's 10, using ball movement to generate efficient looks, particularly in the paint and at the free-throw line, where the hosts went 20-for-27.

The Blue Devils finish the regular season with a 6-21 overall and 5-17 in conference play. LTU will head into the offseason looking to build upon a young roster and look to improve on this seasons struggles.