CHICAGO – For the first time in seven seasons, Roosevelt women's basketball will play in the postseason after an 82-53 rout of Cardinal Stritch on Saturday at the Goodman Center.

The Lakers dominated from start to finish Saturday afternoon against the Wolves, and received the necessary help across the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference to secure their spot in the conference tournament. Roosevelt has not played in the CCAC Tournament since the 2015-16 season when it lost at St. Francis in the opening round. The Lakers are 3-3 all-time in the event, winning the 2012-13 event and losing in the first round of its other three appearances in the postseason.

Roosevelt (11-13, 8-10 CCAC) set the tone early from behind the arc in a dazzling shooting performance from 3-point range in the opening quarter. The Lakers made 6 of 9 from long range in the opening 10 minutes with four different players sinking a 3-pointer. Gabby Beggs and Amelia McNutt both outscored Cardinal Stritch in the first quarter, helping the Lakers lead 26-5 after the opening 10 minutes. Both guards sank two 3-pointers in the first quarter as Roosevelt shot 56.3 percent from the field in the stanza.

For most of the second half, the Lakers flirted with the program record for 3-point makes in a game, but had to settle for tying their season high of 13 makes instead. All five starters made at least one shot from behind the arc, and seven of the nine Lakers who saw action sank a 3-pointer. Roosevelt's 13 of 29 shooting from long range was the team's best 3-point shooting percentage this season and the first time in program history the Lakers have made at least 10 3-pointers in three consecutive games.

McNutt's 17 points paced the Lakers, who had four players finish in double figures and eight finish with at least four points. Beggs made 4 of 5 from deep and added a pair of free throws to finish with 14 points while adding eight assists as well. Jayla Turchin scored 15 points, Meghan Urbanski added 13 points and Chyna Scott scored nine points off the bench. Erionna Moore only scored five points, but led the Lakers with 12 rebounds. Meanwhile, junior Abby Nelson tied her career high with four points, adding the second and third made field goals of her career.

After the first quarter onslaught, Roosevelt cooled down on both ends of the floor and allowed the Wolves to tie the second quarter 20-20. However, the Lakers locked down after halftime and allowed Cardinal Stritch to jut one made field goal in the third quarter. While the Wolves made just 1 of 15 from the floor in the third quarter, the Lakers shot 8 of 14 from the field to stretch its lead to a game-high 36. Both teams shot the ball well in the fourth quarter as the Wolves made five 3-pointers to close the gap slightly.

Roosevelt returns to action Wednesday evening on the South Side when it travels to St. Xavier for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff with the Cougars.