Kacey Gardner (So.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) and Janai' Farr (Jr.-Racine, Wis.) combined for 11 of the 17 steals by the Lakeland University women's basketball team, which defeated Alverno College 71-50 Saturday afternoon at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Gardner finished with six steals, Farr added five and the Muskies took advantage of 20 turnovers by Alverno and turned turnovers into points in the first half on the way to victory. Lakeland won its sixth straight in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference competition and improved to 6-7 overall and 6-2 in the NACC, while Alverno dropped to 2-11 overall and 2-6 in conference.

The Muskies took control of the game in the second quarter, outscoring the Inferno 19-6 on the way to a 39-22 halftime lead. Lakeland took advantage of 13 Alverno turnovers and turned them into 15 points, with Gardner totaling eight points and five assists in the first 20 minutes.

Lakeland led the rest of the way, going ahead by as many as 24 on two occasions. The Inferno closed within 16 points three times but got no closer.

Alverno got off to a hot start, making its first four shots and five of its first six in taking a five-point lead twice in the first five minutes. Lakeland caught up and took the lead at 16-14 on a layup by Hayley Walding (So.-Bradenton, Fla.) after a steal by Farr, and the Muskies led 20-16 after the opening quarter.

The Inferno made 7 of 11 shots in the first period but would struggle the rest of the way. Alverno made just 8 of 42 over the final three quarters and finished shooting 28.3% (15 of 53).

Farr scored 13 points off the bench and led a balanced scoring attack for the Muskies. Gardner and Megan Will (Jr.-Lake Mills, Wis.) both scored 10 points each and Rachel Hasko (Sr.-Racine, Wis.) and Morgan Zenon (So.-Twin Lakes, Wis.) added nine points apiece.

Lakeland shot 40.6% for the game, making 26 of 64 shots. The Muskies also canned 14 of 16 at the free throw line (87.5%) and finished with a 30-10 advantage in bench points. Lakeland won in its first home game of the new year and its first game at home since Dec. 14.

Keeshya Bellow scored a game-high 15 points and added nine rebounds for Alverno, which made 17 of 20 from the foul line (85.0%) and also outrebounded Lakeland 41-37.

The Muskies next will travel to face Concordia University Chicago on Thursday at 7 p.m. in River Forest, Ill.