OSHKOSH, Wis. - The Lakeland University women's basketball team's 2021-22 season got off to a rocky start with a 79-40 loss at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Monday night at the Kolf Sports Center.

The Muskies opened their season with a Titans team ranked No. 17 in the D3hoops.com NCAA Division III top 25 preseason poll. Coupled with UWO playing its second game and having the added motivation of struggling to win its season opener three nights earlier, it was a tough task for a young Lakeland team.

UW-Oshkosh (2-0 overall) bolted out to a 14-2 lead less than four minutes into the game, and the lead would never dip below double-figures again. The Titans led 30-11 after one period and led by as many as 22 in the second quarter.

The Muskies made a brief rally towards the end of the first half and beginning of the second with a 10-1 run. Kacey Gardner (Sr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) scored seven points in the stretch, including a short jumper to make it 40-27 with 7 minutes, 59 seconds left in the third quarter. The Titans would respond with a 25-2 run to go ahead 65-29, including 20 straight points while Lakeland was held scoreless for more than eight minutes.

Gardner finished as the lone Muskie in double figures with 13 points, making 4 of 5 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free throw line. Ellie Felsinger (Jr.-Cedar Grove, Wis.) added seven points and Lauren Downs (Jr.-West Bend, Wis.) and Morgan Zenon (Sr.-Twin Lakes, Wis.) scored six points each. Lakeland shot 31.3% for the game, making 15 of 48 field goals.

Nikki Arneson led UW-Oshkosh with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Titans shot 41.2% (28 of 68) and drilled 11 three-pointers in 30 tries (36.7%). Oshkosh also won the rebounding battle 46-31.

Lakeland now gets ready for its home opener Wednesday night when it welcomes Finlandia (Mich.) University for a 7:15 p.m. tip at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.