The Lakeland University women's basketball team used a dominant second quarter and a good performance from its bench to key a 78-59 win over Finlandia (Mich.) University Wednesday night in both teams' season openers at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies outscored the Lions 36-11 in the second 10 minutes, shooting a blazing 16-for-21 (76.2%) in the quarter to turn an 18-17 lead after one quarter into a huge 54-28 halftime lead. Lakeland then repelled a stubborn effort by the Lions in the second half to win its season opener for the first time since 2009, ending a string of seven straight losses in season debuts.

The Muskies owned the inside all night, posting a huge 50-14 edge in points in the paint. Twenty-six of those 50 points came in the decisive second quarter, including 6-foot-3 freshman Megan Will (Lake Mills, Wis.) scoring all 10 of her points in the frame.

Will was one of a number of reserves to contribute to the cause, as Lakeland substituted in waves and received 38 points from its bench, nearly half of its point total. Amanda Majewski (So.-Peshtigo, Wis.) and Abby Nylund (Fr.-Crystal Falls, Mich.) both added eight points and Kylie Birkholz (So.-Kenosha, Wis.) also chipped in five points and five rebounds.

The Muskies still received a fight from Finlandia, which hit four of its first five three-point attempts to hang in during a first quarter that included nine early lead changes. The Lions also used a 24-9 run over most of the third quarter to cut a 29-point deficit down to 14 before Lakeland steadied in the final quarter.

Freshman Janai' Farr (Racine, Wis.) scored 12 points and added a game-high five steals to lead Lakeland in her first collegiate game. Maddy Doll (Sr.-Florence, Wis.) and Miranda Jacobson (Jr.-Felch, Mich.) also added 11 points each, and Doll also added eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Rachel Hasko (So.-Racine, Wis.) also paced the Muskies with five assists.

Lakeland shot 41.0% for the game, making 32 of 78 field goal tries, including 6 of 23 from three-point range. The Muskies posted a 49-42 rebounding advantage and had 18 steals, inducing the Lions into 23 turnovers.

Finlandia received 15 points from Julia Nordstrom and 13 from Lela Horne, with both also providing big games off the bench. Haley Makela also added 12 rebounds. The Lions shot 35.1% (20 of 57), including 9 of 21 from long distance.

Lakeland is back home Saturday when it hosts Illinois Institute of Technology for a 2 p.m. tip at the Woltzen Gymnasium.