PLYMOUTH, Wis. – A 12-1 run by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point midway through the second half turned momentum in a close game and the Lakeland University women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 57-50 non-conference decision Tuesday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies held a lead late in the third quarter but turnovers and too many second chances allowed prevented them from a second win over the Pointers in the teams' last three meetings. Lakeland dropped to 2-3 on the season while UW-Stevens Point improved to 5-1 with its third win over a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference team this year.

The Muskies were in position in the fourth quarter, trailing just 44-42 after a three-pointer by Lauren Downs (Jr.-West Bend, Wis.) with 5 minutes, 8 seconds left in the game, but could get no closer. UWSP scored on its next four offensive trips, including twice on offensive rebounds, while Lakeland scored just two points over the next 3:49.

The Muskies still got back within three points in the final minute after a free throw line jumper by Morgan Zenon (Sr.-Twin Lakes, Wis.) and a bucket by Kacey Gardner (Sr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) with 39 seconds left to make it 51-48. Lakeland would pressure after the made basket, but Stevens Point's Jessica Slowik got behind the press and scored inside, and the Muskies would never get closer than five again.

A close game throughout saw neither team lead by more than seven points. UWSP built leads that large on three occasions, the first time late in the second quarter. The Muskies fought back to within 29-26 at halftime and took the lead when Alexa Yost (So.-Menasha, Wis.) hit a three-pointer to make it 36-33 with 4:55 left in the third quarter.

Lakeland would sputter offensively from there, though, going nearly nine minutes without a field goal and also being felled by turnovers. The Muskies committed nine turnovers during the Pointers' 12-1 run over that stretch and in all committed 15 of their 18 turnovers in the second half. The Pointers took the lead for good on a free throw by Sierra Raine with 2:32 left in the third quarter and would extend the advantage to 44-37 with 7:22 left in the game on a layup by Jessica Slowik to cap a run of nine consecutive points.

Both teams struggled shooting, as Lakeland made 36.1% of its shots (22 of 61) and UW-Stevens Point hit just 30.7% from the field (23 of 75). The Pointers were especially icy from three-point range, going 0-for-17 from behind the arc, but committed just eight turnovers and also compiled a 51-43 rebounding advantage that included 18 offensive rebounds. Stevens Point turned those offensive boards into a 15-4 advantage in second chance points and also finished with a 17-4 edge in points off turnovers.

Zenon finished with 10 points, five rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the Muskies, Gardner scored nine points and added seven rebounds and five assists and Ellie Felsinger (Jr.-Cedar Grove, Wis.) added eight points.

Taylor Greenheck scored 12 points to lead UWSP. Freshman Gabby Gawlitta also added eight points plus a collegiate-high 14 rebounds off the bench, including six offensive rebounds. The Pointers of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference added to a collection of wins over NACC opponents that also includes victories this season over St. Norbert College and Concordia University Wisconsin.

The Muskies are home again Saturday after Thanksgiving when they host Lawrence University at 4:15 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.