MADISON – Edgewood College received big performances from its bench and the Lakeland University women's basketball team had a bumpy return to conference play with a 68-50 loss Saturday afternoon at the Todd Wehr Edgedome.
The Muskies had a rough shooting day, making just 26.6% of their shots (17 of 64) and taking their first loss of the season in the first game of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference loop. The Muskies also dropped to 3-1 overall, while the Eagles moved to 3-0 overall on the young season.
Edgewood was the most improved team in the NACC a year ago, going from a winless season in 2016-17 to 11 wins overall and a 9-11 mark in conference. The Eagles' Lexi Walter scored 17 points off the bench in this one, making 7 of 8 shots from the field, and also added nine rebounds, and Maryn Ferron drained four three-pointers in adding 12 points. In all, Edgewood received 39 points from its bench and gradually asserted control over the final three quarters.
The Muskies led for most of the early going but Edgewood took a 12-11 lead on a Jordyn Kriegl layup with 59 seconds left in the first quarter. The Eagles would lead the rest of the way, slowly adding to the lead and then pulling away in the second half.
Edgewood built a 10-point lead at one point in the quarter before taking a 33-25 lead into halftime. Lakeland chipped away to get back within five at 37-32 midway through the third quarter when
Mariah Austin (
Fr.-Negaunee, Mich.) hit a three-pointer, but the Eagles followed with a 12-3 run that included two three-pointers by Ferron and another by Abby Shane.
The Muskies never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way, coming only after a steal and layup by
Jaila Cole-Clark (
Jr.-Matteson, Ill.) made it 49-39 with 7:21 left. The Eagles blew it open from there, leading by as much as 23 in the final minutes.
Miranda Jacobson (
Sr.-Felch, Mich.) and
Megan Will (
So.-Lake Mills, Wis.) scored eight points each to lead Lakeland and also contributed nine and eight rebounds, respectively, as the Muskies posted a 51-43 rebounding advantage. Will also added five blocked shots.
Edgewood shot 41.5% as a team, making 27 of 65 field goals, including 7 of 18 from three-point range (38.9%). Shane also added 10 points and Alyssa Lemirande finished with seven assists.
Lakeland is back home Tuesday when it hosts Carroll University at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
