MADISON, Wis. – The Lakeland University women's basketball team again ran into Edgewood College playing some of its best basketball of the season and fell 89-79 Saturday at the Todd Wehr Edgedome.

Edgewood was red-hot from the field the entire game and finished shooting 55.9%, hitting 33 of 59 shots. Lakeland also had one of its best offensive performances of the year but couldn't match the Eagles and dropped to 8-9 overall and 6-4 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

Edgewood (10-7 overall, 7-3 NACC) came in averaging 64.2 points per contest but for the second straight year the Muskies brought out their best. In the teams' last meeting 364 days earlier, the Eagles shot 56.9% from the floor and hit 13 of 19 from three-point range in an 85-56 victory at Lakeland.

Both teams played at an extremely high level offensively throughout in this one. Edgewood's 89 points was a season high and the most by a Lakeland opponent this season, but the Muskies also scored their second-highest total of the season and one of the highest by an Eagles opponent this season, nearly 20 points more than Edgewood's average of 59.2 points per game allowed coming in. The 79 points also was the most Lakeland has scored in a loss in six years, since an 87-82 loss at Concordia University Chicago Jan. 21, 2017.

The Muskies never led in the game but fought through a blazing start by the Eagles to nearly match the hosts throughout the first half. Edgewood led 16-8 just over five minutes into the game after making seven of its first nine shots, but Lakeland responded with six straight points to get right back in the game.

The Eagles led 24-20 after one quarter, but the Muskies closed within a point twice early in the second, after a three-pointer by Jenna Caterino (So.-Stanton, Mich.) and again when Ellie Felsinger (Sr.-Cedar Grove, Wis.) converted a three-point play, the latter cutting Edgewood's lead to 27-26.

Edgewood continued to set a torrid pace, shooting 60% in the first half, and took a 44-37 lead into halftime after a three-pointer by Emma Klein extended the lead to seven. The Eagles' lead waffled between seven and 11 early in the third quarter until the Muskies fought back to within 54-48 after Felsinger split two free throws.

Edgewood began to stretch it out by the end of the period, though, still hovering near 60% shooting throughout. Paige Banks continued a career performance with a rebound and putback to make it 66-52, and the Eagles would eventually lead by 17 on two occasions, the last time at 77-60 after another basket by Banks. Lakeland still would not go quietly, turning up the pressure on defense and scoring seven straight points to close within 79-71 with 3:26 left. The Muskies even had a chance to get closer, but a three-point attempt was off and Edgewood converted its last eight free throws over the final three minutes.

Mackenzie Miller (Fr.-Schoolcraft, Mich.) and Felsinger gave Lakeland a strong 1-2 punch in the post again, combining for 37 points. Miller scored 19, making 8 of 16 shots and all three of her free throws, and Felsinger added 18 points, hitting 7 of 13 field goals and 4 of 5 from the line.

Kacey Gardner (Sr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) also came near a triple-double with 12 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as well as three steals. The Muskies finished shooting a solid 47.1%, making 34 of 71 shots, and committed just eight turnovers.

Banks scored a career-high 29 points to lead Edgewood, hitting 11 of 17 from the floor and 7 of 9 at the charity stripe. Vivian Guerrero also added 15 points and eight rebounds, making 7 of 8 shots.

Lakeland is back home Wednesday when it welcomes Marian University for a 7 p.m. tip at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.