Box Score It wasn't the start the Nipissing Lakers women's basketball team was hoping for when they hit the road to begin the 2018-19 OUA season.

Taking on their rivals, the Laurentian Voyageurs, the Lakers got off to a great start, but were unable to hold on and eventually fell 86-60 to the Vees in Sudbury Friday night.

Nipissing led 24-19 after a very strong first quarter.

Despite being outscored 20-11 in the second, they only trailed 39-35 and were very much in the game.

A slow third pushed their deficit to 11, 59-48, but they hung around enough to hopefully catch up in the fourth.

Unfortunately, Laurentian put the game away, outscoring the Lakers 27-12 and securing the victory.

Jamie Soffer led the way for Nipissing with 15 points, Alexe Galipeau-Wilson had 10 and Vanessa Willis added eight in the loss.

Nipissing hosts Lakehead Friday night for their first home game of the year.

Tip-off is set for 6pm at the RJS Athletic Centre.