ST. PAUL, Minn. – Kacey Gardner (Sr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) notched her first double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds but the University of Northwestern (Minn.) held off the Lakeland University women's basketball team 77-69 Saturday afternoon.

The Muskies cut a 13-point fourth quarter deficit down to five in the final minute, but the Eagles were unflappable at the free throw line at the end, making their final 10 free throws in the last 37 seconds to seal the victory. Northwestern avenged a loss to Lakeland last year and kept the Muskies winless this season at 0-4.

A scoring drought in the second quarter coupled with ice-cold three-point shooting put the Muskies behind and in trail mode for the entire second half. Lakeland trailed 58-45 midway through the fourth quarter and was still behind 63-52 after a three-pointer by Northwestern's Lexi Hagen with 2 minutes, 35 seconds left, but continued to battle and in the final minute made it a two-possession game.

Gardner split two free throws with 46 seconds left to get the Muskies within 67-60, missing the second, but Lakeland received possession back after the rebound was tapped out of bounds. Alexa Yost (Jr.-Menasha, Wis.) then scored on a layup to make it 67-62, but Eagles sophomore guard Rylie Hirschey, in the midst of a career game, made two free throws to push the margin back to seven.

Gardner scored again on a quick jumper to get Lakeland within 69-64 with 34 seconds to play, but Northwestern (2-2 overall) never let the Muskies get closer. The Eagles made eight straight free throws in the last 28 seconds, in all hitting 13 of 14 from the line over the game's final 1:12 to close out the win.

A sour second quarter for the Muskies proved to be the difference in the game, and specifically the final seven minutes of the first half.

Lakeland got off to a good start, scoring the game's first four points and never trailing in the first quarter. The Muskies led 22-13 after one period, and took their largest lead at 26-15 with 7:20 left in the second period after a layup by Yost.

The Muskies were shooting a smooth 50% to that point, having made 12 of 24 field goals, but suddenly went stone cold from the field. Lakeland missed its final 15 shots of the first half, and Northwestern passed the Muskies by with a 20-0 run to go ahead 35-26 at halftime. Lakeland rallied back within six at 39-33 early in the third quarter on a basket by Sydney Walker (Jr.-Flint, Mich.), but the Eagles slowly stretched the lead back out late in the third quarter and early in the fourth.

Gardner played all 40 minutes and made 8 of 22 shots while setting season highs scoring and rebounding. Mackenzie Miller (Fr.-Schoolcraft, Mich.) also scored 17 points off the bench, making 7 of 11 shots, and Ellie Felsinger (Sr.-Cedar Grove, Wis.) added 12 points and nine rebounds, and the inside duo led Lakeland to a 40-26 advantage in points in the paint.

The Muskies finished shooting 34.2%, making 27 of 79 shots, and in particular struggled from outside, making 2 of 23 three-point shots. Lakeland helped its cause considerably with a season-low four turnovers, its lowest turnover total since committing three turnovers in a win at MSOE Jan. 4, 2020.

Hirschey scored a career-high 26 points for Northwestern, nearly doubling her previous career high of 14 points by coming off the bench to make 5 of 8 field goals including 4 of 6 from long range plus 12 of 14 free throws. The Eagles finished making 25 of 31 free throws (80.6%) and hit 22 of 55 from the floor (40.0%).

Lakeland plays the third of four consecutive road games on Tuesday when it travels to take on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 4 p.m. in Stevens Point.