Wisconsin Lutheran College darted out to double-digit lead in the first quarter and the Lakeland University women's basketball team dropped its third straight game with a 69-49 loss Wednesday night in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.

The Warriors shot 45.6%, the second-highest field goal percentage for a Muskies opponent this season, and also were the third straight team to get hot from long range against Lakeland. Wisconsin Lutheran made 10 three-pointers and never trailed while the Muskies dropped to 6-10 overall and 6-5 in NACC play.

The Warriors (11-4 overall, 9-2 NACC) hit their first three shots of the game to take a 6-0 lead, and built a 19-4 lead by late in the first quarter. WLC eventually led by as many as 18 in the first half, including a 36-18 lead at halftime after Kalies Birkholz hit the team's sixth three-pointer of the opening 20 minutes.

Lakeland patiently worked its way back in the third quarter, and cut the margin to single digits when Megan Will (Jr.-Lake Mills, Wis.) split two foul shots making it 40-31 with 2 minutes, 53 seconds left in the period. Wisconsin Lutheran would heat up again, though, making four straight shots in closing the quarter on a 12-4 run to pull back out to a 52-35 lead, and the Muskies would get no closer than 15 the rest of the way.

Janai' Farr (Jr.-Racine, Wis.) hit four three-pointers to lead Lakeland with 12 points, including two triples in the third quarter as the Muskies rallied. Hayley Walding (So.-Bradenton, Fla.) also added a career-high 11 points off the bench, making all four of her shots and also tying for team honors with four rebounds.

Lakeland shot 32.6% from the field, making 15 of 46 shots, including 7 of 18 from three-point range (38.9%). The Muskies struggled from the free throw line, hitting 12 of 23 (52.2%).

Amanda Brug scored 13 points to lead a balanced effort for WLC, which made 26 of 57 shots and featured six players scoring at least nine points. Kelly Tramburg also scored 12 and Jenna Mace added 11 points and 12 rebounds as the Warriors posted a big 46-23 rebounding advantage, including 12 offensive rebounds that keyed a 17-2 advantage in second chance points.

The Muskies home again Saturday when they welcome Marian University for a 4:15 p.m. start at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.