PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Lawrence University's Mallory Meyer hit a baseline jumper with 19 seconds left in the game to give her team its first lead of the game and the Lakeland University women's basketball team let one slip away in a 68-66 loss Saturday afternoon at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies went ice cold down the stretch and a tying shot came just after the final buzzer, as the Vikings finished the game on a 15-0 run to steal a victory after Lakeland led for all but 1 minute, 4 seconds of the game. Lawrence continued its best start in nearly 20 years, improving to 4-1 overall, while the Muskies dropped to 2-3 overall.

The Muskies were in complete control for more than three quarters, hitting their first five shots of the game and holding a double-digit lead much of the afternoon. Lakeland led by as many as 18 points early in the third quarter and still held a 13-point lead when Kerstin Sauerbrei (Sr.-Ripon, Wis.) hit her fourth three-pointer of the game for a 66-53 lead with 6:13 left.

The Muskies had shot better than 50% from the field in a proficient offensive effort to that point, and had also played a strong fourth quarter in their last game against UW-Stevens Point, but in a sudden turn late this time would not score again. Lakeland missed its final five shots from the field plus two free throws, and also committed six turnovers over the final 5 1/2 minutes.

Lawrence cashed in with 11 points directly after the turnovers, including a three-pointer by Maggie Culver with 2:17 left to close within 66-65. The Muskies still nursed the lead into the final minute, but a third chance on a Vikings possession in the final minute after two offensive rebounds finally produced when after a timeout with four seconds on the shot clock, Meyer hit a short turnaround jumper just outside the left block to give Lawrence its first lead of the game.

Lakeland had a chance to retake the lead with 14 seconds left but a layup by Alexis Johnson (So.-Sheboygan, Wis.) rolled around the rim and off, and Meyer was fouled with four seconds left. She missed the first free throw but made the second, and the Muskies advanced the ball to the frontcourt after a timeout for a final shot. A.T. Bartlett (So.-Farmington Hills, Mich.) received the inbounds pass but was crowded by Viking defenders and passed to Johnson, who drove down the right side of the lane and put up a runner off the glass that went through the hoop, but was ruled to have been released just after the final buzzer.

Lakeland got off to a sizzling offensive start and appeared to have an answer to every challenge from Lawrence from the early going on.

The Muskies hit their first five shots from the field in taking a quick 15-8 lead less than five minutes in, and shot 73.3% in the first quarter in leading 26-13 after 10 minutes. The Vikings would get within nine points on two occasions in the second period, but Lakeland finished the half strong, too, with Jenna Shea (Fr.-Appleton, Wis.) and Johnson hitting three-pointers in the final minute for a 41-26 halftime lead.

The Muskies built their biggest lead at 46-28 early in the third quarter after a three-pointer by Bartlett, and stretched it out again after Lawrence got within eight late in the third quarter, with a 10-3 run capped by Bree Arsenault (Sr.-Hermansville, Mich.) swishing two free throws for a 58-43 lead with 37 seconds left in the quarter.

Jenna Caterino (Jr.-Stanton, Mich.) set career highs with 15 points and eight rebounds to lead Lakeland. Sauerbrei scored 13 points and Bartlett and Johnson added 11 points each. Johnson also finished with a game-high five steals.

The Muskies shot 46.2% for the game, making 24 of 52 shots. Lakeland also hit 11 of 26 from three-point range (42.3%) with six different players hitting triples, and posted a 16-7 advantage in bench points, including six points from Shea.

Charlotte Brennan led Lawrence with 19 points before fouling out with 4:23 left. Meyer also scored 17 points, including eight in the final quarter. The Vikings finished shooting 41.7% (25 of 60) but outrebounded Lakeland 37-31.

The Muskies are back on the road for their next game when they travel to face UW-Superior on Tuesday for a 5 p.m. start up north in Superior, Wis.