CHICAGO – Roosevelt's defense was outstanding in a tough 70-51 loss to No. 1 Grand Valley State on Monday night at the Goodman Center in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action.

The host Lakers gave the top team in the nation everything it could handle for 40 minutes, accomplishing feats few have this season against Grand Valley State. Roosevelt was just the second Division II team to lead after the first quarter against the visiting Lakers, and the five-point spread Roosevelt built was the largest deficit Grand Valley State has faced all season against a D-II foe. In addition, the Lakers (5-9, 3-5 GLIAC) became the third team to hold Grand Valley State to 70 points or fewer this season and the third to hold it to 25 percent or worse from behind the arc.

It was an inspired first quarter for Roosevelt as it led for more than eight of the 10 minutes in the period. Lexie Sinclair had her best game for the Lakers in the loss, scoring eight of her career-best-tying 20 points in the first quarter. The Lakers not only held Grand Valley State to just 4 of 17 shooting, but also won the rebounding battle 15-8 in the first quarter.

Grand Valley State finally took the lead for good in the second quarter, but still couldn't manage to pull away from the pesky Lakers. The top team in the country was held to just 30 first-half points, their second-fewest this season in the opening half, and the lead topped out at five points. It took another eight minutes in the third quarter for Grand Valley State's lead to hit double figures and the visitors were still under 40 percent shooting after 30 minutes.

A tough night for the Lakers' offense was the only thing holding back Roosevelt in the game as it finished shooting just 31.6 percent from the field. Sinclair's 20 points were complemented by 14 points and 13 rebounds from Marie Outlay while Luka Malinka dished out seven assists.

UP NEXT: The Lakers kick off a four-game road trip Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m. against Saginaw Valley State in University Center, Mich.