CHICAGO – Roosevelt put in a gritty effort on both ends of the floor to win its first home game of the year at the Goodman Center on Thursday night.

The 64-52 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over Saginaw Valley State was far from pretty for the Lakers. They shot just 37 percent from the field and committed 18 turnovers, but when it mattered most, they outhustled and outmuscled the Cardinals. Roosevelt (3-9, 2-3 GLIAC) finished with a 47-28 edge in rebounds and a 13-2 advantage in second-chance points.

Marie Outlay highlighted the extraordinary effort with an incredible final 45 seconds of the third quarter to help the Lakers extend their lead to 11 at the end of the period. The junior grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds in those 45 seconds, a stretch that ended with Kelly Boyle getting fouled with less than half a second left in the frame.

It was a common theme for Roosevelt, which made 17 of 21 from the foul line while holding Saginaw Valley State to just 6 of 13. It was a team effort on the glass as well as Outlay led the way with 11 rebounds, followed by 10 from Isabella Pitta, six from Isabel Lindo – which tied a career high – six more from Brynne Katcher and a career-best four from Boyle.

Pitta's 10 rebounds were a sixth straight game with at least 10 rebounds, setting the program record for consecutive games with double-digit rebounds. She added 12 points for her sixth double-double of the season, one of four Lakers to finish in double figures. Boyle led the team with 16 points while Lindo set a season high with 15 points and Katcher added 10 points, six of which came in the decisive fourth quarter.

Lindo was the only person who figured out a rhythm from behind the arc by making four of her seven 3-point attempts. Boyle sank a pair of big ones in the third quarter to give Roosevelt a double-digit lead for the first time in the game with 3:36 left in the period. Those were her only 3-pointers of the game, though she made 8 of 9 at the foul line.

Outlay was an efficient 3 of 4 with her shots for nine points, but again showed her value on defense with five steals and two blocks. Pitta added three rejections of her own while Lindo and Boyle tied for the team lead with four assists apiece.

UP NEXT: Roosevelt will try to keep the momentum going Saturday at 1 p.m. when it hosts Lake Superior State at the Goodman Center.