MILWAUKEE – The Lakeland University women's basketball team went cold in the second half while Milwaukee School of Engineering controlled play in the final 20 minutes to send the Muskies to a 67-53 loss Tuesday night in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game.

The Muskies led by a point after a high-scoring first half but scored just 15 points in the second half, their lowest-scoring half of the season, and fell in their return to play after another long layoff. Lakeland was playing for the first time in two weeks, just the second time in the new year and the third time since its last win against the University of Northwestern (Minn.) Dec. 18.

The Muskies (7-6 overall, 3-3 NACC) led 38-37 at halftime but the Raiders made their move in the third quarter. MSOE (6-7 overall, 4-3 NACC) outscored Lakeland 21-8 in the period, including a 16-4 run to finish the quarter. A jumper by Chloe Kurkjain put the hosts ahead for good at 44-42 and started a run of seven straight points, and Skylar Flanagan made a three-pointer with 55 seconds left in the quarter for a 58-46 lead.

Lakeland never got closer than 12 points in the final quarter, with the Raiders extending the lead to as much as 17 when Kurkjain made another jumper for a 65-48 lead with 5 minutes, 26 seconds left in the game. The Muskies made just five field goals in the second half, hitting 5 of 26 shots (19.2%).

Lakeland's high-water mark came in the first quarter when it got off to a strong start, making 9 of its first 18 shots. The Muskies led by as many as ten points when Hayley Walding (Sr.-Bradenton, Fla.) scored on a layup for a 21-11 lead late in the quarter.

MSOE scored the final four points of the first quarter, and the teams then went back and forth late in the second quarter, trading the lead six times before halftime. Sydney Walker (So.-Flint, Mich.) put Lakeland ahead just before the break with a layup with six seconds left in the half for a 38-37 lead.

Lauren Downs (Jr.-West Bend, Wis.) came off the bench to lead the Muskies with 12 points. Kacey Gardner (Sr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) added 10 points plus 13 rebounds and four assists and Alexa Yost (So.-Menasha, Wis.) scored eight points. Lakeland finished shooting 33.3% (20 of 60) and made 4 of 21 from three-point range and 9 of 19 free throw attempts (47.4%).

Wendy Guan scored 14 points to lead MSOE, which shot 44.6% (25 of 56), including 7 of 17 from long distance (41.2%). Kurkjain added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Muskies are scheduled to be back home Saturday to face Edgewood College at 2 p.m. at the Woltzen Gymnasium.