HANCOCK, Mich. – Lakeland University went on a 16-2 run in the first quarter to build a big lead and cruised the rest of the way to a 59-49 win over Finlandia (Mich.) University in a non-conference women's basketball tilt Wednesday night.

The Muskies held the Lions to one field goal in a span of eight minutes in the opening quarter, part of a defensive effort that limited the hosts to 28 points over the first 30 minutes. Lakeland won its fifth straight game in improving to 8-2 overall and held its third straight opponent below the 50-point mark.

The Muskies never trailed in the game and were tied only once at 3-3 in the first two minutes. Lakeland followed with a big run that included 12 straight points, with Janai' Farr (So.-Racine, Wis.) capping it with a three-point play for a 19-5 lead with 44 seconds left in the quarter.

Lakeland stretched the margin to 33-16 by halftime and took its largest lead of the game when Miranda Jacobson (Sr.-Felch, Mich.) made two free throws to make it 48-26 with 1:40 left in the third quarter.

Finlandia (0-12 overall) refused to quit and made some headway in the final quarter. The Lions made 8 of 14 shots in the quarter and finished the game on a 13-2 run.

Amanda Majewski (Jr.-Peshtigo, Wis.) led Lakeland with 12 points, including nine in the first quarter, and also added five rebounds. Jacobson notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds and Megan Will (So.-Lake Mills, Wis.) also finished with eight points, nine boards and three blocked shots.

Lakeland shot 32.1% (18 of 56), shooting considerably better in the first and third quarters (a combined 13-for-23) than in the second and fourth (5-for-33 combined). The Muskies also outrebounded the Lions 45-37.

Taylor Pertile scored a game-high 19 points for Finlandia, which shot 32.8%, making 19 of 58 shots. Katie Lundeed added nine points and 10 rebounds.

Lakeland is idle now until after Christmas, with its next game at home against Milwaukee School of Engineering on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m.