It was a tough matchup for the Nipissing Lakers women's basketball team as they hit the road for the first time in 2017.

The Lakers struggled early and fell to the Carleton Ravens, the division's top team, by a final of 75-30.

The Lakers were slow out of the gate, finding themselves down 24-9 after the opening quarter despite trailing by just four near the midway point of the quarter.

Nipissing tightened up defensively in the second quarter, but couldn't muster up much offence, as they were outscored 16-5 and trailed 40-14 at halftime.

It was more of the same in the second half, as Carleton extended their lead in the third quarter and held a 58-19 advantage after three quarters.

In the final quarter, Nipissing put up 11 points, but it was too little, too late as Carleton once again outscore them to make the final 75-30.

Heidi Smith and Claire Abbott each had 11 points to lead Nipissing.

The Lakers will now look to rebound as they face the Ottawa Gee Gees Saturday night at 6pm, in Ottawa.