PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University women's basketball team bounced back from a disappointing performance in its season opener with a vengeance, coming out red-hot in the opening minutes and riding the wave to a 62-46 win over Finlandia (Mich.) University Wednesday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies scored 30 points in the first quarter to build an early 21-point lead and went on to win their home opener and earn their first win of the season. Lakeland also maintained its perfect record all-time in the series with Finlandia, improving to 11-0 all-time against the Lions.

Two days after scoring just 40 points in the game in a 79-40 loss to nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh, the Muskies neared that mark in just ten minutes against the Lions, who also were coming in off a loss to UWO but by just a 60-53 count at Finlandia's home in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Saturday.

Lakeland could hardly miss in the first quarter against the Lions, hitting 12 of its first 15 shots, including five three-pointers all from the bench. Lauren Downs (Jr.-West Bend, Wis.) hit three triples and Hayley Walding (Sr.-Bradenton, Fla.) added two more as the Muskies were up 30-9 after one quarter.

The offensive display stunned the visitors almost from the start. After Finlandia scored the game's opening basket, the Muskies made seven consecutive shots in a 17-0 run to take a 17-2 lead. Another flurry came late in the period when Downs and Walding combined to drill three three-pointers in a span of 1 minute, 42 seconds.

Lakeland cooled considerably from there, including scoring just three points in the second period. Finlandia (0-2 overall) was unable only able to make a moderate dent in the margin, though, closing to within 33-20 at halftime and never getting closer than 13 points in the second half. The Lions struggled with shooting and turnovers, and the Muskies responded every time the guests started to get closer, including late in the third quarter.

Finlandia cut the deficit to 13 on three occasions in the third quarter, the last time at 41-28 on a short jumper by Carsyn Osterman with 5:30 left in the period. Lakeland responded by scoring the next nine points, with Sydney Walker (So.-Flint, Mich.) scoring on a rebound putback, Downs hitting her fourth three-pointer of the game and Walding and Brianna Jones (Jr.-Indianapolis, Ind.) both knocking down two free throws each.

The Lions crawled back within 52-38 early in the fourth quarter after a jumper by Harlee Froberg with 8:27 left in the game, but would then go cold with just two points over the next 5:39. The Muskies put the capper on the win with two more three-pointers back-to-back from Kerstin Sauerbrei (So.-Ripon, Wis.) and Alexa Yost (So.-Appleton, Wis.), the latter making it 60-40 with 4:32 left and effectively putting the game away.

Lakeland finished shooting 41.5% from the field (22 of 53) but was 9 of 19 from three-point range (47.4%). Downs finished with 13 points, Walding scored nine points and added six rebounds and fellow reserve Morgan Zenon (Sr.-Twin Lakes, Wis.) added eight points and four blocked shots as the Muskies received 35 points from their bench.

Katie Lundeen scored 13 points to lead Finlandia, which shot 32.8% (19 of 58), including 2 of 16 from long range. The Lions also committed 24 turnovers.

Lakeland is home again for its next game in six days when it hosts nationally ranked Wheaton (Ill.) College next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Woltzen Gymnasium.