MADISON – Edgewood College sprinted out to a double-digit lead in a big first quarter and the Lakeland University women's basketball team dropped a 78-61 decision Thursday night at Edgewood's Todd Wehr Edgedome.

The Eagles continued to roll in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play, clinching a sweep of the season series with the Muskies. Lakeland dropped to 8-6 in conference and is now 8-11 overall with six games to play in the regular season.

Edgewood (17-2 overall, 12-2 NACC) outscored Lakeland 20-2 over a span of more than seven minutes in the first quarter to take an early 16-point lead. The Eagles would maintain a double-digit lead the rest of the way despite the Muskies continuing to battle and hang around into the fourth quarter.

Lakeland trailed 20-6 after one period but scored 24 points in the second quarter, keeping pace and cutting the deficit down to ten on two occasions before going into halftime down 42-30. The Muskies trimmed the Eagles' lead down to ten twice more right after halftime, but a 14-4 run gave Edgewood its largest lead at 58-38 late in the third.

Lakeland fought back and got back within 11 after two free throws from Rachel Hasko (Sr.-Racine, Wis.) cut the Eagles' lead to 64-53 with 7 minutes, 34 seconds to play. Edgewood scored the next eight points, though, to put the game out of reach.

Megan Will (Jr.-Lake Mills, Wis.) kept the Muskies in it with 19 points, making 7 of 11 field goals plus all five of her free throws. She also added seven rebounds plus six blocks. Kylie Birkholz (Sr.-Kenosha, Wis.) also added 10 points off the bench, including eight in the fourth quarter, and Kacey Gardner (So.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) scored eight points and added five rebounds and five assists.

Lakeland shot 37.7% from the field, making 23 of 61 field goals. The Muskies also converted 14 of 16 from the free throw line (87.5%).

Edgewood was led by Bria Lemirande, who recorded the first triple-double in Eagles history with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Alyssa Lemirande also scored a game-high 21 points. The Eagles shot 43.2% (32 of 74) for the game, including 51.6% (16 of 31) in the second half.

Lakeland plays again Saturday when it hosts Aurora University at 4:15 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.