WINONA LAKE – A strong start carried Lakewood Park Christian to a 66-35 girls basketball win at Lakeland Christian Academy Tuesday night.

Lakewood Park raced to a 21-10 lead after the opening quarter en route to the win. The guests led 34-18 at halftime.

Alisa Gross scored eight points and Emilee Catron had seven to lead LCA, which lost its third straight game. Frani Gerst netted six points for the Cougars, who are now 1-4 on the season.

“The game was a race from the beginning as Lakewood Park plays a very intense, up tempo game,” said first-year LCA coach Ty Propp. “When we settled down, didn’t turn the ball over and ran our offense, we were effective at getting the ball in to our posts and they scored.  We just need to do that consistently. Turnovers were our main contribution again to our defeat.  We posted more than our score. Lakewood’s players have a definite can do attitude and as a team and they work their presses with tenacity. They are coached well.”

Rae Faur netted a game-high 18 points for Lakewood Park, which improves to 3-2. Natalie Mafera scored 13 and Suzanne Grimm 12 for the winners.

Morgan Holsclaw and Hannah Remington each scored five points for LCA. Megan Lang and Jessica Goss each added two points for the Cougars.

LCA (1-4) plays at Jimtown Friday. Lakewood Park (3-2) hosts Fairview (Ohio) Thursday.