News Photo by Jonny Zawacki Alpena’s Shelby Seaver (21) goes up for a shot while being contested by Lakers defender Allison Hoek (11) during the third quarter of a women’s basketball game on Saturday at Park Arena.

Things looked promising early on for the Alpena Community College women’s basketball team in its 2018 season opener on their home floor at Park Arena.

The Lumberjacks got out to an early lead, but a second half collapse doomed Alpena as they fell to Mid Michigan Community College on Saturday by a final score of 71-50.

The Lakers were ice cold from the field early in the game and couldn’t get much to fall and Alpena took advantage by working the ball inside and grabbing an early lead thanks to some solid play from freshman Shelby Seaver.

The Lumberjacks opened with a 16-9 lead after one quarter and Seaver had six points in the opening quarter.

Alpena scores the first four points of the second quarter to take its largest lead of the game at 20-9, but the lead quickly evaporated as the Lakers caught fire, scoring 19 unanswered points, including four three pointers to take a 28-20 lead.

Alpena tried to regain the lead before the half, but trailed 28-26 at the break.

Both teams went back and forth to begging the second half and after the first three minutes of the third quarter, the teams were tied at 32, but it was as close as the game end up being the rest of the way as the Lakers turned up the pressure defensive and forced turnovers which led to easy baskets as Mid Michigan went on a 13-3 run midway through the quarter and took a 50-36 lead into the final quarter.

The Lakers carried the momentum into the fourth and Mid Michigan made up for its slow start as the shots were falling late and the Lakers ran away with a big double-digit victory and spoil Alpena’s season opener.

Seaver led all Lumberjacks with a game high 16 points. Jasmyn Schultz finished with 11 points and Taylor Livingston added eight points.

Alpena will have some time off before traveling to take on Grand Rapids Community College in its second game of the year.