PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Lakeland University exploded for 32 points in the second quarter to blow the game wide open against Marian University during a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference matchup. The hosting Muskies led by 20-plus points the entire second half and had three players score in double-figures on Friday night.
The Sabres drained a 3-pointer to take a one-point lead 23 seconds into the second quarter. It was the visitor's last lead of the game, as the Muskies caught fire and went on a 32-9 scoring run to take control and never looked back inside Woltzen Gymnasium.
With MSOE defeating Concordia Wisconsin there is still a mathematical chance Lakeland will earn a spot in the NACC Tournament.
Alexa Yost (Fr.-Menasha, Wis.) led Lakeland with 13 points on 5 of 9 shooting, while
Kacey Gardner (Jr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) had 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Megan Will (Sr.-Lake Mills, Wis.) also had 11 points.
Morgan Zenon hauled in seven rebounds off the bench.
Paris Harris led Marian with 19 points, nine rebounds and two steals. She made 5 of 11 3-point attempts. Claire Levendoski tallied 12 points and Morgan Johnson scored six for the Sabres.
After an opening 3-pointer by
Janai' Farr (Sr.-Racine, Wis.) to give Lakeland the lead 20 seconds into the game, Marian responded with a 13-4 scoring run. During the Sabres run, Paris Harris scored eight points behind a pair of 3-pointers. After the first 10 minutes of play the Muskies owned a 16-12 lead and scored eight of their points in the paint. Yost had four points for the Muskies and Will also drained a long ball.
Lakeland exploded in the second period with 32 points, which included a 28-8 scoring run over the final eight minutes and 40 seconds before halftime. The Muskies also closed the period on a 13-0 scoring run in the last 3:16 before the intermission. Lakeland had seven players score in the second quarter, with Gardner and
Hayley Walding (Jr.-Brandonton, Fla.) each scoring seven points.
With seconds to play before halftime and the ball loose, Marian grabbed possession and made an attempt to pass it up court. Gardner jumped in front for a steal and heaved up a 35-footer that was nothing but net as the horn sounded.
At the intermission, the Muskies had scored 16 of their 44 points in the paint and 17 off 13 Sabres turnovers. They were also a perfect 11-for-11 at the free throw line.
The scoring slowed down in the third period, with just 20 being put on the scoreboard between both teams. Lakeland extended its lead by two points and was ahead 55-33 through 30 minutes of action. There were just four field goals made during the first five minutes of the third period.
Lakeland had a game-high 29-point lead with 4:04 to play in the third quarter and maintained its 20-plus point lead the rest of the way. During the final period the Muskies had seven players find the scoring column and 17 players got into the game. Yost,
Lauren Downs (So.-West Bend, Wis.) and
Sydney Walker (Fr.-Flint, Mich.) each had four points in the final minutes.
Overall, the Muskies scored 32 points in the paint, had 25 points off 20 Sabres turnovers, held a 16-6 advantage in second-chance scoring, and received 32 points from their bench.
Lakeland closes out the season on Saturday against Marian at 5 p.m.
