Trista Barron (Jr.-Escanaba, Mich.) scored a career-high 19 points and the Lakeland College women's basketball team used a big second half to defeat Alverno College 71-57 Saturday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies turned a close game into a rout in the second half with a 34-11 run and gained some revenge for a loss earlier in the season to Alverno. Lakeland also remained in the hunt for a spot in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament, improving to 8-14 overall and 7-10 in conference play to remain tied with Aurora (Ill.) University for eighth place in the conference.

Barron finished 8 of 11 from the field and made three of the Muskies' nine three-pointers. The team also received contributions throughout the lineup, in scoring as well as other categories.

Bailey Grayvold (So.-Norway, Mich.) scored 13 points and Lexie Greenheck (Jr.-Oostburg, Wis.) added a season-high 11 points off the bench, including three three-pointers.

Lakeland also finished with assists on 22 of its 28 made baskets, with Kayla Clark (So.-West Bend, Wis.) tying a career high with eight assists. Mikayla Hilton (So.-Port Washington, Wis.) also added six assists as well as four points and eight rebounds off the bench.

The Muskies led by three at halftime and saw Alverno (5-17 overall, 3-14 NACC) score the first points of the second half to close within a point. Lakeland asserted itself the rest of the way, though, building a 70-46 lead late before the visitors finished the game on an 11-1 run to make the score more respectable.

The Muskies actually outscored the Inferno 68-31 over a 30-minute stretch of the game, for the game started out looking like it would be a long night for the home team. Alverno jumped out to an early 15-2 lead by scoring on seven of its first nine possessions and continued to hold a six-point lead late in the first half until the tide turned.

Barron scored on a fast break to cut the deficit to 29-25, and the Muskies went on an 11-0 run to take a 34-29 lead late in the half. Lakeland went ahead to a 36-33 halftime lead.

The Muskies shot 43.1%, making 28 of 65 from the field. Lakeland also out-rebounded Alverno 40-27, a considerable turnaround from the teams' first meeting this year when the Inferno finished with a +21 rebounding advantage.

Alverno shot 40.5% (17 of 42) but committed 24 turnovers. Julie Gallegos finished with 15 points.

Lakeland now gets ready for a very important game Tuesday when it faces Marian University at 7 p.m. in Fond du Lac. The Muskies are currently one game behind the Sabres for seventh in the NACC.