By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
There was no big comeback to be thwarted or any last second free throws to be made as Dowagiac faced the visiting Lakeshore Lancers for the second time this season on Tuesday.
Lakeshore got out to a big lead, then had to rally in regulation before nipping the Chieftains 57-56 in overtime of their first meeting on Sept. 8.
On Tuesday night it was Dowagiac that got off to a quick start and then was able to maintain its advantage on the way to a 62-52 Big 16 West Division win over the Lady Lancers.
Dowagiac jumped out to a 14-2 first quarter lead and led 29-20 in just before halftime.
Lakeshore rallied in both quarters to cut the lead. The Lady Lancers knotted the score at 14-14 with 6:05 to play in the first half and then cut the lead to 29-24 heading into the intermission.
In the second half the Chieftains opened up a seven-point advantage on Lakeshore and then kept between a five and 10-point advantage for much of the third and fourth quarters.
Dowagiac got contributions from several players Tuesday night, something it has lacked the past several games.
Katy Stuppy scored a game-high 25 points, while Holly Lowe netted 18 points, Kim Luthringer nine points and Kristy Cooper five points. Luthringer also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds - seven of which came at the offensive end.
The Chieftains (5-12, 1-5) took a 44-37 lead into the final eight minutes before Lakeshore rallied.
The Lady Lancers cut the lead to 50-47 with 2:02 to play on a pair of free throws from Katie Pappa.
Luthringer then scored with 1:55 to play and Stuppy followed with a steal and scored with 1:28 to go to increase the Chieftains' advantage to 54-47.
Dowagiac was nearly perfect down the stretch with its free throws to ice the contest.
Lakeshore got 12 points from Katie Wiederwax. No other Lady Lancer reached double figures.
Dowagiac shot 36 percent from the field on the night, while Lakeshore shot 33 percent. The Lady Lancers held a 44-35 advantage in rebounding.
The Chieftains host St. Joseph on Thursday in another Big 16 West Division contest.
LAKESHORE 52
Amanda Harrington 4 1-3 9, Monica Gathright 2 3-6 7, Katie Pappa 2 2-2 8, Katie Wiederwax 6 0-0 12, Molly Lange 1 3-4 5, Laura Wilke 1 0-0 2, Alex Garrison 0 0-0 0, Jordan Nelson 1 1-2 3, Ashley Brown 0 0-0 0, Katie O'Connor 1 4-5 6. Totals: 18 14-22 52
DOWAGIAC 62
Kim Luthringer 3 3-4 9, Holly Lowe 5 4-4 18, Jolynn Hawkins 1 0-0 2, Katy Stuppy 9 7-8 25, Kristy Cooper 1 2-2 5, Amy Wood 1, 0-0 2, Sarah Ostyn 0 0-0 0, Amber Clark 0 0-0 0, Katie Roach 0 0-0 0, Sarah Ausra 0 0-0 0, Becky Cleveland 0 1-2 1. Totals: 19 17-20 62
Lakeshore 9 24 37 52
Dowagiac 14 29 44 62
Three-point baskets: Pappa (L) 2, Lowe (D) 4, Stuppy (D) 2, Cooper (D). Total fouls: Lakeshore 18, Dowagiac 21. Fouled out: Harrington (L), Pappa (L). Technical fouls: None.