PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University women's basketball team saw a 19-point fourth quarter whittled down to three points late but held on for a 55-51 win over Lawrence University Saturday evening at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Kerstin Sauerbrei (So.-Ripon, Wis.) banked in a three-pointer with 38 seconds left to give the Muskies some breathing room and Kacey Gardner (Sr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) made a free throw with 4.6 seconds left to finally put away the Vikings. Lakeland survived to improve to 3-3 on the season while Lawrence dropped to 2-3 this season.

The Muskies broke open a close game with an 18-4 run over a stretch of six minutes that was capped by Morgan Zenon (Sr.-Twin Lakes, Wis.) sinking two free throws with 9:11 left for a 46-27 lead. Lakeland had overcome a 12-5 deficit after one period to outscore the Vikings 41-15 over the next two quarters-plus, and appeared in good shape to cruise to its fifth straight win in the series against Lawrence.

The guests would not go quietly, specifically Vikings guard Ashley Batac. Scoreless through three quarters while missing her first 11 shot attempts, Batac caught fire in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 points and making six straight shots, including four three-pointers. She went on a personal 11-0 run late in the fourth, including three consecutive three-pointers, the last one trimming the Muskies' lead to 49-46 with 1:55 left.

Lawrence had a chance to tie but missed a three-pointer at the end of the shot clock with just over a minute left, and the shot clock was winding down again on Lakeland's next possession when Gardner drove and passed out to Sauerbrei on the left wing. The sophomore's three-point attempt banked off the glass and cleanly through for her fourth three-pointer of the game to push the lead back to six.

The Vikings closed to three again on a three-pointer by Kenya Earl, but Hayley Walding (Sr.-Bradenton, Fla.) made one of two free throws with 22 seconds left, and after a timeout Batac finally cooled off, missing a three-pointer wide right that was rebounded by Zenon, who also split two foul shots to make it 54-49. Earl was fouled on a three-point attempt with six seconds left and made two of three to cut the Muskies' lead to 54-41, but Gardner received the inbound pass after a timeout and made the second of two foul shots for the final four-point margin.

Lawrence opened an early 12-5 lead after one quarter, making the first offensive surge in the game with a 10-2 run over the final 4:03 of the first quarter. Lakeland would come alive in the second quarter with 21 points and took the lead for good on a backcourt steal and layup by Gardner making it 21-19 late in the half. The Muskies would go to the break leading 26-21 and pushed the lead to 41-27 when Lauren Downs (Jr.-West Bend, Wis.) hit a three-pointer at the third quarter buzzer.

Lakeland finished shooting 32.2% (19 of 59) but received better support from its reserves, finishing with a 20-7 advantage in points from the bench. The Muskies also made enough free throws, converting 11 of 18 (61.1%) while the Vikings struggled at the line, making just 3 of 10 foul shots.

Sauerbrei led Lakeland with 12 points, all coming on three-pointers, and Zenon added nine points and six rebounds off the bench. Brianna Jones (Jr.-Indianapolis, Ind.) also added eight points and five rebounds and Gardner finished with three points and a game-high 11 rebounds plus four steals.

Batac scored a game-high 16 for Lawrence, which shot 33.9% (21 of 62) and committed 15 turnovers. Earl added 15 points and ten rebounds and helped the Vikings to a 46-42 rebounding advantage.

The Muskies now get ready for their Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener when they travel to face new NACC member St. Norbert College on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in De Pere.