The University of Minnesota Duluth’s lead over Lake Superior State University vanished with one second left in regulation as a foul sent a Laker player to the line and they tied the game at 53-53 to force the extra session and the Bulldogs ultimately lost 63-60 at Romano Gymnasium on Friday night.

Senior guard Katy Freeman scored the game’s first four points to put UMD (2-10) on top but the Lakers (4-6) quickly gained the lead and went up 17-14 at the 10:29 mark.

UMD would pull within one, 21-20, with 8:32 to go in the half but LSSU again took control and went into the break with a 32-27 lead over the Bulldogs.

Lake Superior State led 37-34 at the 16:12 mark but neither team managed to score until Bulldog senior guard Alissa Pauly made a lay-up at 11:42 to pull within a point, 37-36.

UMD junior guard Stephanie Reiter notched the game at 39-39 with a three pointer at 10:34 and both squads would exchange the lead multiple times before the game was tied at 46-46 with 3:39 left to play in the second half.

After two more ties, the Bulldogs jumped back into the lead at 52-51 on a free throw shot by freeman but a foul with just one second remaining allowed the Lakers to go to the line and tie the game to force overtime.

The Bulldogs lead 58-56 at the 2:44 mark in overtime but the Lakers tied the game at 58-58 with just less than a minute to go and held on for the victory.

Freeman scored a game-high 21 points for the Bulldogs while going 3-for-6 from the free throw line and 9-for-18 from the field.

Pauly chipped in 12 points for UMD and had a season-high eight assists while also adding four steals in the contest.

Senior forward Kim Wagers tied the game-high for rebounds with nine.

The Bulldogs shot 34 percent for the game while the Lakers shot 38 percent.

UMD will close the books on 2007 as they host Northern State University on Dec. 30. The opening tip-off is set for 1 p.m.